Bradley Wiggins today secured his position as one of Britain's greatest-ever sportsmen by adding an Olympic gold medal to his historic Tour de France victory.

The 32-year-old raced to glory in the time-trial around Hampton Court giving him a record seventh Olympic medal, one clear of rower Sir Steve Redgrave, who has six.

It was a day of British triumph - earlier rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning claimed Team GB's first gold medal of London 2012, making history by becoming the first British women to take an Olympic rowing gold.

The 44km time-trial was packed with cheering, Union flag-wielding supporters as Wiggins ripped the field apart.

He raised his hands in the air acknowledging the cheers of the crowd once his victory was confirmed.

British dominance in cycling was underlined as fellow Briton Chris Froome, second to Wiggins in the Tour, took a bronze.