Bradley Wiggins hour record attempt: When does it start? What distance does he need to beat? Where can I watch it?

We take a look at today's world record attempt in Stratford

Bradley Wiggins talks to the media ahead of his attempt (GETTY IMAGES)

Bradley Wiggins will today attempt to break the UCI Hour Record - the longest distance ridden in one hour on a bicycle.

The attempt by the 2012 Tour de France winner, considered one of the most prestigious records in cycling, will start at 6.30pm.

LIVE: Bradley Wiggins hour record attempt

Taking place at the Velodrome used for the 2012 Olympics, Wiggins will be attempting to beat the existing record of 52.937km - 32.894mph - which was set by fellow Briton Alex Dowsett at the Manchester Velodrome back in May. Previous holders of the record include Chris Boardman and cycling legend Eddy Merckx.

Whilst the record attempt is being shown on Sky Sports, it will be streamed free of charge. It's possible to watch at skysports.com, or alternatively on Sky Sports' YouTube channel. You can also follow text coverage here.

The Independent's Alasdair Fotheringham explains what it means for Wiggins...

When Sir Bradley Wiggins makes his bid to beat the Hour record on Sunday, if, as expected, he establishes a new maximum distance pedalled in 60 minutes, one immediate knock-on effect will be simple: Wiggins’ place amongst the legends of cycling will be even more strongly guaranteed.

Success will also prove yet again, that versatility has been the bedrock of Wiggins greatness. No other rider has been capable both of taking multiple Olympic gold medals on track and road as well as conquering the Tour de France - simultaneously a breakthrough result for Great Britain. On the international stage, Wiggins’ bid to triumph in cycling’s greatest Classic, Paris-Roubaix in 2013 and 2014, broke another massive invisible boundary - given the previous Tour de France champion to participate in Paris-Roubaix was Greg LeMond in 1992.

It has reached the point where some of Wiggins’ achievements have been overshadowed by his own successes. It’s almost forgotten, for instance, that in 2012 the Londoner became the first rider, to win Paris-Nice, the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour of Romandie, three of cycling’s top week-long races, in a single season, and in 2014 he became the first, too, since his own idol, Miguel Indurain, to have won both a Tour and the World Time Trial title.

“In the modern era, he’s pretty much up there with the best there’s ever been,” believes ex-professional Sean Yates, who directed Wiggins to victory in the 2012 Tour. “He’s got that versatility as a rider, and it’s not over yet. He could well go to Rio and get another medal.”