A motorist collided yesterday Wednesday with Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner, 
sending him to the hospital with injuries.
In a strange twist, hours later head coach for Great Britain, Shane Sutton was also struck by a motorist, and sustained more serious injuries, according to news reports.
The driver who struck Wiggins, and who has not been identified, pulled out of a petrol station in Wrightington, Britain and hit the Olympic champion while he was on a training ride.
Wiggins sustained broken ribs and cuts and injuries to his hands.
“Bradley has been discharged from hospital after suffering minor injuries, including bruises to his right hand and ribs, but is expected to make a full and speedy recovery,” Team Sky’s Doctor Richard Freeman said in a statement on the team’s website (www.teamsky.com)
“He is now going to spend the weekend at home convalescing with his family.” Wiggins lives in Lancashire, England.
Coach Sutton was wearing a helmet when he was struck on the A6 road near Levenshulme in Manchester, according to British Cycling.
“Shane was taken into hospital where it was identified he has suffered bruising and bleeding on the brain,” the statement said.
He will undergo more tests, and is expected to stay in the hospital for the next few days.
“It is extremely rare that our riders and coaches are hurt while out cycling on the road, even rarer that two incidents should occur in a short space of time, and we wish Shane and Bradley a speedy recovery.”
But the cycling group, which covers all British based racing, struck a cautious note about the state of safety on Britain’s roads, and called for changes.
“Cycling is not an intrinsically dangerous activity but there is much more to be done to improve conditions for cyclists on the roads. British Cycling is calling on the government to put cycling at the heart of transport policy to ensure that cycle safety is built into the design of all new roads, junctions and transport projects, rather than being an afterthought.“
