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Wiggins apologises for one-fingered gesture

Bradley Wiggins is recovering after a road traffic accident on Wednesday © Getty Images

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Bradley Wiggins has apologised for his one-fingered gesture towards photographers following his release from hospital on Thursday.

Wiggins suffered a fractured rib, a bruised lung and a dislocated finger in a collision with a van near his home in Lancashire on Wednesday and spent the night in hospital.

Speaking for the first time since the accident, the Tour de France champion thanked well-wishers for their support and said sorry for his gesture as he arrived at his home in Eccleston.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and messages over the last 48 hours, and of course all the staff at the Royal Preston Hospital who looked after me so well," Wiggins said in a statement.

"Although I'm still a little bit sore I will now be spending time at home with my family and concentrating on making a full recovery.

"I would also like to apologise for the gesture that I made when I arrived home yesterday afternoon. I was tired, in a lot of pain, and just wanted to get inside, but I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I'm sorry for that. I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike soon and continuing my preparations for the 2013 season."

Team Sky confirmed that Wiggins had recovered from a mild head injury but would have further scans on his fractured rib next week.

"Bradley has already recovered from a mild head injury which required overnight observation in hospital on Wednesday," said the statement. "The swelling in his dislocated finger has also reduced and will not require surgery, and he will undergo further X-rays on his fractured rib on Monday.

"He's convalescing at home with his family and is expected to make a full recovery in a short period of time."

Lancashire Police also confirmed on Friday that a woman had reported for summons for driving without due care and attention after she voluntarily attended an interview following the collision.

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