British Cycling Coach Is Hurt in Accident Day After Wiggins - San Francisco Chronicle

(Adds Team Sky comment in fourth, fifth paragraphs.)

Nov. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Shane Sutton, head coach of the British Cycling team, suffered brain injuries in a bike accident, a day after Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins hurt his ribs when he was knocked off his bicycle.

Sutton was involved in an incident this morning in a road in Manchester, northwest England, and was taken to the hospital, where he'll remain the next few days, British Cycling said today in an e-mailed statement. The coach, who was wearing a helmet, will undergo additional tests in 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," British Cycling said in the statement.

Wiggins, 32, was taken to the hospital last night following a collision with a vehicle near his home in Eccleston, also in northwest England. He was released today with minor injuries, including bruised ribs and hand, Team Sky said on its website.

Wiggins "is expected to make a full and speedy recovery," Richard Freeman, Team Sky's doctor, said. "He is now going to spend the weekend at home convalescing with his family."

Wiggins became the first British winner of the Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious race, on July 22. Ten days later, he won his fourth Olympic gold medal with a victory in the men's time trial at the London Games.

Sutton, who is Australian, is also head coach at Team Sky. He joined British Cycling in 2001.

--Editors: Bob Bensch, Peter-Joseph Hegarty.

To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net