Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins, of Britain, bagged the fourth Olympic gold medal of his career yesterday after blitzing his rivals to win the men’s road race time trial.

Germany’s reigning world champion Tony Martin finished second to take the silver with Britain’s Chris Froome in third.

Wiggins, crowned Britain’s first yellow jersey champion last month, crossed in 50:39 for the 44km race against the clock which started and finished at the former residence of King Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace.

Reigning world champion Martin was racing under par after suffering a broken wrist on the Tour de France and he did well to clock 51:21.

It is Wiggins’s first Olympic title on the road, having won his three previous gold in track cycling’s pursuit events.

“I cannot put it into words. I wouldn’t do it justice,” said Wiggins.

“To win an Olympic gold in your home city. When you win in the velodrome, there are three or four thousand people cheering.

“Here, around the streets of London, the noise is just amazing.”

Now with a total of seven Olympic medals including four gold, Wiggins has overtaken Steve Redgrave’s previous record tally of six medals for a Briton.

Meanwhile, Kristin Armstrong capped her return to the sport by successfully defending the women’s Olympic time trial crown yesterday.

The American, who returned to cycling after the birth of her baby nearly two years ago in a deliberate bid to defend her crown, then announced she’d taken part in her final competitive race.

“I am now officially retired,” said the 38-year-old Armstrong, who won by a convincing 16 seconds from world time trial champion Judith Arndt of Germany.

Arndt took the silver in 37:50 while Russia’s Olga Zabelinskaya, already the winner of a road race bronze on Sunday, took her second medal of the Games in a time of 37:57.