Wiggins jokes about Cumbria's notorious 'Struggle'

Sir Bradley Wiggins is set to resume the Tour of Britain today after a taxing second day saw him joke he had overdone recent celebrations.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist and former Tour de France winner found a Lake District climb known as 'The Struggle' lived up to its name on Monday.

He was pictured pushing his bike at one stage on the ride from Carlisle to Kendal, eventually finishing 22 minutes and 51 seconds behind Belgian Julien Vermote, who took the leader's jersey.

Wiggins, who landed his fifth Olympic gold in Rio last month, wrote on Instagram: "Taking things very seriously at the top of the struggle, took my mind off being in a world of pain #onetomanyginandtonics #wiggins #tob2016"

He re-posted a picture of himself, taken by Instagram user @leeblack321, that showed him seemingly laughing along with the crowd at his difficulty in making the ascent.

It evoked memories of Chris Froome's problems at the Tour de France on Mont Ventoux in July, when a crash involving a motorbike saw the eventual Tour winner have to run uphill, although Wiggins took his bike-pushing in good humour.

Tuesday's third stage runs through Cheshire, from Congleton to Tatton Park, Knutsford.