World road race champion Mark Cavendish has been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award – and the sprinter has immediately been installed as favourite to walk away with the top prize in December’s public vote.
Cavendish was nominated for the award in 2010 but failed to make the podium, with jockey Tony McCoy winning ahead of darts player Phil Taylor and heptathlete Jessica Ennis.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable 2011, however, becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France green jersey, before triumphing at September’s World Championships in Copenhagen with a trademark sprint finish.
“I’m very excited about it because I know I’ve got a chance to win it, which would be great for me, and even better for the sport,” said Cavendish. “Chris [Hoy] had a great 2008 and deserved to win the BBC award but that was in an Olympic year.
“I’m very aware that if I win, it will be because of my feats out on the roads this year. It would be very special.”
Also on the 10-strong shortlist are Darren Clarke (golf), Alastair Cook (cricket), Luke Donald (golf), Mo Farah (athletics), Dai Greene (athletics), Amir Khan (boxing), Rory McIlroy (golf), Andy Murray (tennis) and Andrew Strauss (cricket). The ceremony will take place on Thursday December 22 and will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Sir Chris Hoy was the last cyclist to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year, walking away with the gong after winning three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Before that, Tom Simpson claimed the award in 1965, when it was decided by an expert panel and in the same year he won the world road race. Can Cavendish follow suit?
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