Froome and Rose lead fight for SPOTY runner-up award
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Even though Ladbrokes have already paid out on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner following Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon victory, there’s still plenty of value to be had in the runner-up market.
Chris Froome is 6/4 favourite, looking to follow in the wheel tracks of Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, who have all won this award since 2008 as cycling enjoys the public spotlight.
Runner-up to Wiggins last year, Froome has looked in good shape throughout this year’s Tour de France.
Should the 28-year-old go one better and pull off a second-successive British victory in the famous Tour, then his odds will surely shorten fast.
If Froome misses out this summer in France, then that could well open the door for Justin Rose, a man enjoying perhaps the finest year of his career.
The South African-born Brit has been in superb form, and topped it all off with a stunning US Open victory to finally claim a first Major title.
Rose – 6/1 – became the first Englishman since Tony Jacklin in 1970 to win the US Open, and has claimed top-ten finishes at four other events in 2013.
A golfer hasn’t won this award since Nick Faldo in 1989, but the British public love a never-say-die attitude, and Darren Clarke has been awarded the runner-up spot twice since 2006.
Those looking for an outsider may well consider Mo Farah ahead of this summer’s World Championships.
Farah can be backed at 12/1, a strong price for one of the nation’s most cherished athletes following his memorable 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic double last year.
The 30-year-old was voted third in 2011 after a World Championships that saw him claim gold in the 5,000 and silver in the 10,000.
And after that historic Olympics last year, it stands to reason many will vote for the Londoner should he triumph again at the Championships in Moscow next month.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
