Continuing to get over his Wednesday evening crash, Bradley Wiggins has expressed his gratitude to those who have supported him since he hit the deck, while also apologising for losing his composure with photographers yesterday.
He was photographed by paparazzi giving them a one-finger gesture, and was criticised on Twitter and elsewhere as a result. The photo was printed in many national and international newspapers, something which may well have irked his Sky team.
“I would like to apologise for the gesture that I made when I arrived home yesterday afternoon,” he said via a team communication today. “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.”
Wiggins was said yesterday to have suffered bruising to his ribs and hand, but his condition has now been updated and it seems that things are slightly more serious. Further tests have shown that he has a fractured rib, a bruised lung and that one of his fingers are dislocated.
However he is expected to make a quick recovery. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and messages over the last 48 hours,” he said, “and of course all the staff at the Royal Preston Hospital who looked after me so well.
“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.” He added that he was looking forward to returning to training soon and continuing his build-up towards the 2013 season.
A Team Sky spokesperson explained how things are progressing. “Bradley has already recovered from a mild head injury which required overnight observation in hospital on Wednesday,” the representative stated.
“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.”
Wiggins was due to make a number of publicity sessions to promote his new autobiography but has had to cancel some of those, including a slot on the Graham Norton show.