Bradley Wiggins in hospital after being hit by car

Bradley Wiggins was hit by a car whilst out riding on Wednesday in Lancashire, resulting in the Tour de France and Olympic time trial champion being admitted to hospital with suspected fractured ribs and a wrist injury.

According to a report published on Wednesday night by the Lancashire Evening News, Wiggins collided with the car as it left a petrol station forecourt in Wrightington, near Chorley at around 6pm.

"By the time I got there he had moved to a safer place but was still on the ground and he was in a lot of pain," garage attendant Yasmin Smith told the Lancashire Evening News.

"He said he thought he had broken his ribs and while a lot of police cars arrived it was about 15 minutes before the ambulance got there by which time he was blue."

Lancashire Police confirmed to the BBC that it was a white Astra car that had collided with a '32-year-old man' and that his injuries were 'not life threatening'.

Wiggins' Sky team issued a brief statement later in the evening: "We can confirm that Bradley Wiggins was involved in a road traffic accident whilst riding his bike near his home in Lancashire on Wednesday evening.

"He is being kept in hospital overnight for observation but the injuries he has sustained are not thought to be serious and he is expected to make a full and speedy recovery."

Wiggins is scheduled to appear alongside actress Cameron Diaz and singer Rod Stewart on the Graham Norton Show on BBC One this Friday night.

The 32-year-old Sky rider enjoyed his best season yet as a professional, winning the Tour de France, gold in the Olympic Games time trial, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine. He finished second overall behind Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) in the Union Cycliste Internationale WorldTour.

Wiggins is currently the bookmakers' favourite for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Related links

Bradley Wiggins: Rider Profile