BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:MARK CAVENDISH last night became only the third cyclist to win the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award when he pipped Irish golfer Darren Clarke and athlete Mo Farah to the main prize in Salford.
The Isle of Man rider achieved the two huge goals he set for himself in 2011, becoming the first Briton to win the green jersey in the Tour de France and then clinching gold in the road race at the World Championships.
A tearful Cavendish, who joins Tommy Simpson and Chris Hoy as cycling’s winners of the award, said: “I’m absolutely speechless. A few of my team-mates here will say that’s a rare thing. Without those guys this wouldn’t even be close to possible.
“I had a group of guys in (the World Championships in) Copenhagen who rode incredible and that brought a rainbow jersey back to Britain after more than half a decade, and that’s a massive thing.”
Golfer Lauren Taylor was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The 17-year-old became the youngest winner of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush in its 112-year history in June.
