- Mark Cavendish was not shortlisted for Sports Personality of the Year
- Earlier this year he broke Eddy Merckx’s record for stage wins in the Tour de France
- Keely Hodgkinson and Luke Littler are at the forefront of the battle for the SPOTY award
Mark Cavendish will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on Tuesday evening.
The British cycling legend was surprisingly left off the six-strong SPOTY shortlist, despite breaking the Tour de France stage wins record in July.
However, the reasons for Cavendish’s omission have now become clearer with the announcement that he will instead be honored with a Lifetime Achievement gong at the Salford show.
The 39-year-old – who won the top SPOTY award in 2011 – becomes the second cyclist to receive the special award, after Chris Hoy in 2014. Liverpool and Scotland football legend Kenny Dalglish was the recipient last year.
“Mark Cavendish has redefined what is possible in cycling,” said Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport. ‘From his medals on the track to his breathtaking record in the Tour de France, his determination to achieve greatness is nothing short of extraordinary.
“Mark has inspired generations of athletes and fans through his sporting achievements and openness about his mental health struggles.
Mark Cavendish will receive the Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award
Earlier this year he broke Eddy Merckx’s all-time Tour de France stage victory record
Mary Earps is the holder of the SPOTY top prize, with Keely Hodgkinson favorite to win
‘His legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time makes him a deserving winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award.’
Cavendish is the most successful cyclist of all time and made history earlier this year when he took his 35th stage win in the Tour de France, breaking the record he set with Eddy Merckx.
The Manxman also won the 2011 world road title, 17 stages in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a España, as well as a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Olympics.
“I dreamed of being like my heroes when I was young,” Cavendish said. ‘That gave me inspiration to train, to compete, to travel. If you can be that name that inspires, then I think that’s an important legacy to leave.”
Cavendish failed to make the six-person shortlist for this year’s top prize, which is led by Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who is expected to become the fourth straight female winner.
Luke Littler is second favourite, ahead of Alex Yee, Joe Root, Judge Bellingham and Sarah Storey.