The 37-year-old was born without a functioning left hand but has long competed on a virtually even keel with Olympic athletes, will seek to break the mark of 46.065 kilometres set in 2003 by Dutch rider Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel.

She is due to make her attempt on February 28 at the Lee Valley VeloPark on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London during the Revolution Series event there, the International Cycling Union (UCI) revealed. 

"I'm excited and nervous at the prospect of being the first woman to take on the record in over a decade," Dame Sarah said.

"I did a couple of days' testing up at the Manchester Velodrome to try and work out the output that would be involved over an hour to have a realistic chance of challenging the record, and we decided that if I can arrive in good shape I stood a fighting chance.

"Logistically it fits in just about perfectly with the plans I already had put in place for next year which center around the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships at the end of March - when I will be entering the individual pursuit, 500 metres time trial and scratch race."

Dame Sarah Storey celebrates one of her four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics ©Getty Images



Dame Sarah began her sporting career over two decades ago, winning the first of five Paralympic swimming titles at the Barcelona 1992 Games before switching from the pool to the bike four Games later.

She duly won track and road cycling titles at Beijing 2008, before a stunning four gold medals at London 2012, making her one of the biggest stars at her home Games.

The Briton also became just the second Paralympian to represent England at the Commonwealth Games in an able-bodied event when she did so at Delhi 2010 and then narrowly missing out on a place in Britain's London Olympic team pursuit squad that ultimately took gold.

The hour record, one of the biggest milestones in the sport, has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent months, with Germany's Jens Voigt and then Austrian Matthias Brandle each breaking the men's record in 2014.

Other stars, including Britain's 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins, are planning future attempts.  

"After two UCI hour records in quick succession for the men, I am very pleased the existing women's record will now be challenged," said Britain's UCI President Brian Cookson.

"Dame Sarah Storey's attempt will be eagerly awaited and I am sure it will prompt other top women riders to try to claim this prestigious record."

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