The Briton was attempting to surpass the existing distance of 46.065 kilometres set by Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel of The Netherlands, posted in 2003 in Mexico City, but at the close of her attempt posted a distance of 45.502km.

She was able to set the second furthest distance by a female cyclist and saw her set a record in the C5 Paralympic classification, in addition to posting a world masters and British record.

The 37-year-old was born without a functioning left hand, but has competed on virtually an even keel with Olympic athletes and is a member of the Pearl Izumi women's team on the road circuit.

Dame Sarah's attempt began strongly and at one stage was three seconds above the schedule that four-time Olympic champion Zijlaard-van Moorsel required to set the current benchmark.

However, at the halfway mark she dipped below the required pace to beat the Dutchwoman's distance and, despite her best efforts, was unable to get back on track on the schedule required.

Dame Sarah Storey was the first woman to attempt the record since the UCI rule change ©Getty Images



It was the first attempt at the women's hour record since the UCI ruled that the record could be broken on an aerodynamic bike last May and was held during the Revolution Series event, at the venue in which she won two of her four gold medals in the Paralympic Games at London 2012.

Dame Sarah initially competed as a swimmer and won the first of five Paralympic swimming titles at the Barcelona 1992 Games and competed at a further three Games before switching sports, to cycling after Athens 2004, winning track and road cycling titles at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

UCI President Brian Cookson was in attendance at Dame Sarah's hour record attempt, which was also streamed live by the world governing, and he claimed he was pleased that a woman was attempting to set a new record and praised Storey as a fine Paralympian and a world-class athlete.

It follows several men's hour record attempts since Jens Voigt first reignited interest in the event as the German set a new distance last September, with Australia's Rohan Dennis the current holder after posting a mark of 52.491km on February 8.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alex Dowsett of Britain had also been set to stage his own bid to break the record at the Revolution Series event, but was forced to postpone his attempt due to a broken collarbone.

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