“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 on www.teamsky.com today.

“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’m looking forward to getting back on the bike soon and continuing my preparations for the 2013 season.”

Wiggins was thrown off his bike when a white Vauxhall Astra Envoy is thought to have pulled out of a petrol station in Wrightington and collided with him.

After a night of observation he returned home to Eccleston, near Chorley, to rest.

Team Sky confirmed Wiggins suffered bruising, a fractured rib, a bruised lung and a dislocated finger.

“Bradley has already recovered from a mild head injury which required overnight observation in hospital on Wednesday,” a Team Sky spokesperson said.

“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.”

Wiggins, who won became the Tour’s first British winner in July before winning Olympic time-trial gold at Hampton Court on August 1, also issued an apology for a one-fingered gesture to photographers as he travelled home yesterday.

He added: “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.“