Mark Cavendish is publicly apologising for his v-sign gesture made as he crossed the finish line to win yesterday's second stage of the Tour of Romandy in Switzerland.
In an official press release from his H.T.C. Columbia team, he says he was making a statement to his critics but now realises it was not the best way to do it.
He is quoted as saying "I apologise to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way".
Sports Editor Tim Glover reports:-
Cav is no stranger to letting his emotions spill over.
Fellow riders who have come under his verbal fire include Olympic Madison partner Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France rival Thor Hushovd and recently Columbia team-mate Andre Greipel.
He is famously quoted as saying if I say something with my cycling helmet still on - ignore it!
All of this is nothing new in cycling - sprinters are usually the most passionate members of the peloton - indeed fire in the belly is required to do what they do.
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