Alex Dowsett has rated Bradley Wiggins’ historic Olympic time trial success as probably the finest ride in an already glittering career.

Just weeks after becoming the first British rider to pull on the coveted yellow jersey as a Tour de France winner, Wiggins eclipsed the time trial field to pick up his seventh Olympic medal.

Riding at an average of 32mph over the 30-mile course, his gold medal ride saw him finish 42 seconds clear of silver-medal winner Tony Martin of Germany and 68 seconds better than his British team-mate Chris Froome.

And Dowsett, who is a Team Sky team-mate of the British legend, rated his ride around Hampton Court Palace as his best yet.

Dowsett, who is from Cock Clarks near Maldon, said: “He just keeps going from strength to strength.

“Coming off the back of his win at the Tour de France, he is clearly the best rider in the world at the moment and he carried that through to this race.

“He was up against it as I’d say Tony Martin is a better single-day time trialer, while Brad has the edge in a time trial in a staged event.

“So I think Brad has turned out the best ride he has ever done.

“He did well to keep pace early on as he was down to Tony Martin at the first time check, but that just shows how he rode his own race.

“I think he judged it to perfection.

“Bradley just has a natural talent, but all pro riders need to be backed by a good team and he has had that from Team Sky.

“But he has also had to make a hell of a lot of sacrifices and I know he hasn’t seen much of his family this year.

“You’d have to say all of that has paid off, though."

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