Sir Bradley Wiggins back on the track as cycling career nears conclusion

The 36-year-old took to the track on Tuesday in the first evening of the London Six Day event at the Lee Valley VeloPark - his final event on British soil before his planned retirement next month.

Wiggins, racing for the first time since early September's Tour of Britain, received a warm welcome from the crowd, and he appeared pleased to be racing again, with 11 days scheduled to remain in his storied career.

Wiggins said: "It's just good to get back on the bike. I love riding the track."

In the 74 days since the eulogies which greeted his fifth Olympic gold and British record eighth medal were penned, Wiggins has faced intense scrutiny.

The self-styled 'Kid from Kilburn' was Britain's first Tour de France champion in 2012.

But he has since had to deal with media criticism after it emerged he sought and received permission to use triamcinolone, an otherwise banned substance, as a Therapeutic Use Exemption prior to his victory.

Wiggins and Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford strenuously deny wrongdoing, insisting the injections were medically necessary to deal with a pollen allergy that aggravates the rider's long-standing asthma condition.

The TUEs had the approval of the UCI, cycling's world governing body and there is no suggestion any rules were broken.

Wiggins five years ago became the first man to win the Tour de France and Olympic gold in the same year, his London 2012 success coming in the road time-trial at Hampton Court.

But he has still recorded significant achievements in the former Olympic Velodrome.

On June 7, 2015, he set the Hour record, circling the track for 54.526-kilometres in 60 minutes.

It was a painful experience, one that Wiggins - with tongue firmly in cheek - likened to childbirth.

Events since September 15, 2016, when the 'Fancy Bears' hackers published details of Wiggins' TUEs, may have been just as painful, but have had a far more serious tone.

But Wiggins' reputation remains intact in the eyes of the majority of those spectators who ventured to the London Six Day.

"He's still a great cyclist," spectator Sarah Henderson said. "He's shown his worth in lots of different disciplines.

"According to the rules, he hasn't broken them. That's what rules are there for. They're there to set a limit and he hasn't gone over it."

Emma Gillan from London added: "From what he's done, he's still a fantastic role model and fantastic athlete.

"Rules are rules. Unless they can prove it's against the rules, we go with the rules."

Wiggins has eight world titles and in March claimed his seventh on the track with a second Madison success with Mark Cavendish.

And Wiggins and Cavendish - his team-mate again at Six Day London - have been key protagonists in the British cycling boom, and many have travelled to London this week purely to see the pair race - something they will do on multiple occasions each evening until Sunday.