Mark Cavendish wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award to cap outstanding 2011

Here's the lengthy Cycle Sport interview with Mark that I mentioned, they have now put it online:

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/mark-cavendish-interview-centre-of...

Seeing it confirms that I still much prefer reading the paper version, usually when curled up on the chair in the corner with a mug of coffee to hand (I see there's a copy on ebay, ends 16:46 today).

Congrat's Cav - nice to see someone win who is the best in the World at the sport rather just good at it!

ditto

I used to think from Cav's interviews that he was a bit , well...one dimensional? Having listened to him on Realpeleton podcast I agree with Ned B and Matt R that he is pretty smart, tired of the press already and careful about what he says and how he says it - which can lead to saying the same thing again and again.

As a comparison with footballers it's interesting to realise that Cav had to learn French alongside car washing as part of his apprenticeship with Team GB and judging from another episode on Realpeleton with Wiggins it's easy to be misquoted by the press in either language - regardless of how well you speak both.

And to answer a much earlier question; No - of course Golf isn't a sport! My rule of thumb is if you get out of breath it's a sport; if you just tap something, ride in or on something that you don't power yourself, or chuck something at a cork board it's a LEISURE activity. Nothing wrong with it - but it isn't a sport.

The "Mute" posts from me are where i edited out what i had said because i was sick fed up of the numbskull's abuse lastnight

oh, and GKam, I think your opinion is worthwhile. People have the right to disagree with it (which I may or may not have done, all I can see in your comments now is "mute"), but you certainly have the right to express it. As someone who generally holds a minority view myself, I can empathise.

As I say, not sure exactly what you said, but from other comments I'd possibly agree with you inasmuch as what interviews by sportsmen are generally dull. I mean, they're sportsmen after all, they're not running the country. In Cavendish's case, I remember seeing him being interviewed on breakfast tv and being asked whether he ever nipped down to the shops on his bike. I mean, how ******* ignorant a question is that? So I can feel for him in some ways.

And when they do dare to stray off their specialised subjects.....well look at all the grief Alan Hansen's getting at the moment for what in my book was a totally innocent remark. Ignorant, for sure, but not malicious - it doesn't surprise me in the least that a 55yo affluent white guy would use the word "coloured", but he's being vilified in some quarters for it.

I didn't watch the show but followed it on twitter and duly voted for Cav - it was quite funny how twitter lit up as soon as the phone numbers were disclosed. I think I saw tweets from Geraint Thomas, Matt Brammeier and Peta Todd fly past, not to mention Cycling Weekly (and probably rcc, can't remember, sorry).

I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to vote for Lucy Garner also, though. I don't know much about golf, I'm sure the girl that won is a brilliant golfer and a worthy winner, but I do have an appreciation of what it must take to be world road race champion...

While I think of it, what does 'MUTE' stand for? Is it something to do with the football team that has so many fanatics in the south east?

You beat me to it, Simon E.

Anyone who thinks Cav's interviews are boring should compare them to the output of footballers. Cav conveys facts, opinions, a range of emotions and appropriate gratitude in the interviews I've watched. A premiership player's contributions are usually along the lines of "Well, you know, like, obviously, done good, at the end of the day, the ref, literally, like, you know."

Top job by Mark. Another success that should help the profile of pro cycling in this country (which is still abysmal).

I've had mixed feelings about Mark at times but in many ways he is a great role model. If you base your opinion of him on a few ill-mannered outbursts he's made in the past I don't think you'll get a proper picture. Having read many interviews, profiles and so on, particularly during this year, he seems to have matured but also has the passion and drive of a great competitor.

As far as I can see Mark thanks his team so profusely because he is wholly aware that not only do they work so hard for him to win but invariably sacrifice their own ambitions for his success. The 3 years of work that went into the Worlds road race was discussed in December's Cycle Sport mag and is an eye-opener. In the same issue an interview with HTC domestique Lars Bak gives a glimpse of how dedicated those boys were to getting him over the finish line first.

I'm not asking people to like him, but I have to wonder what there is to be gained by slating him in this particular thread. Perhaps you'd prefer it if someone in casual clothing that knocks a little white ball round a park really deserves to beat him to the BBC's top sports award of the year.

Well done to Mark Cavendish. That percentage of vote is amazing if only cycling had as much TV coverage as that vote indicates.

Any chance the BBC would realise that cycling has a big following and cover it accordingly? Perhaps live televised stages of the Tour of Britain?

"i just find his speeches and interviews quite boring"...............funny that

At least he puts his money where his mouth is and lets his legs do the talking

Congratulations to Mark it's given my Christmas mood a boost!

Well done Cav. The best guy one it. Golf!!! Is that a sport?!

Great to have a sportsman from the sport of my choice (which is often overlooked) out on top. This is another step to get more people out on bicycles and making our sport more present on the sporting map, which is only a good thing.

Well done.

I see the days of voicing one's opinion on a website which is open to EVERYONES opinion has gone now, So why bother

Fol de Rol

MUTE

Sorry if I have offended but I was just expressing a personal opinion.

What has Mark Cavendish got to do with the state of London's roads? He is a worthy winner of this year's SPOTY. I suggest Gkam84 writes to the Mayor of London if he wants action to be taken. It's a shame that people try to spoil a great achievement. YOUR opinion is fine to express but this is neither the right place nor the right time to express it.

@Gkam - you're so bloody ungracious. if you haven't got anything good to say about him, probably best to say nothing at all at a time like this.