Cav wins BBC ‘Sportsman’ award
- By Andrew Hood
- Published Dec. 23, 2011
- Updated Jan. 5, 2012 at 1:39 AM UTC
The 2011 season ended with one more accolade for Mark Cavendish as BBC awarded the world champion the Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Mark Cavendish collects his rainbow jersey at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com
The 26-year-old becomes just the third cyclist to win the prestigious award, joining Tom Simpson and Chris Hoy to claim the prize.
The Manxster topped a poll ahead of British Open champion Darren Clarke and 5,000-meter world champion Mo Farrah to earn the honor.
As always, Cavendish was quick to thank his teammates for his success.
“I’m absolutely speechless,” Cavendish was quoted by BBC. “A few of my teammates here will say that’s a rare thing. Without those guys, this wouldn’t even be close to possible.”
Cavendish is set to debut with Team Sky next season.
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: BBC Sports Personality of the Year / Mark Cavendish
Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.