Poll: Is Froome set to for SPOTY glory after Le Tour success?
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As his fellow Team Sky riders accompanied him up the Champs Elysee, Chris Froome became the first British rider to win two Tour de France.
His achievements on two wheels is unprecedented in British sport, but compared to fellow cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, there is one award out of the saddle that he lacks.
In securing his victory in Paris, Froome shot to the head of this year’s Sports Personality of the Year betting.
But is he your favourite to claim the crown in December? Vote now on who you think will take the title at the end of the year.
Chris Froome – 5/2
The Kenya-born rider may have the fact that it has so far been a quiet year from sport in this country, and with three cyclists claiming the prize in seven years, he looks a strong favourite.
Nevertheless, he failed to even make the first three when he claimed his first Tour win in 2013, so is he enough of a public-facing ‘personality’ to come out on top?
Lewis Hamilton – 7/2
Somewhat of a Marmite character, Hamilton is the defending champion on both the track and in the SPOTY arena.
He looks to have much more of a battle in his Mercedes this time round, and with no sportsman claiming back-to-back awards in the history of the prize could see him give up both crowns.
AP McCoy – 5/1
‘The Champ’ hung up his riding gear in April, and while he didn’t quite go out with a bang in 2015 (apart from a 20th Jockeys Championship that is), his legacy in racing will surely be honoured somehow in Belfast.
The Lifetime Achievement award could be more his bag with Chris Hoy and Steve Redgrave recent recipients following their retirement from their respective sports.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson – 10/1
The world of athletics has been represented in the top three in five of the last six renewals of this award, so this could be the shrewd each-way option.
Johnson-Thompson has set new British high jump and long jump records this year, and also landed gold in the Pentathlon in the European Indoor Championships in Prague. With the Worlds to come in Beijiing next month, there could be more to come.
Joe Root – 16/1
It may seem unlikely after the abomination that was Lord’s, but if England are to claim the Ashes, the Yorkshireman could be a key cog in the machine.
Root hit an outstanding 134 in the opening Test in Cardiff, and if repeating those heroics a few more times could be celebrating a SPOTY award as well as a first Ashes success as a England international.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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