This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.
Mark Cavendish has won the BBC Sports Personality of the year award for 2011. The cyclist beat golfer Darren Clarke into second with runner Mo Farah in third. Cavendish becomes the third cyclist to win the award after Tom Simpson in the 1960s and Sir Chris Hoy in 2008.
Cavendish had his best season to date. He won his third Scheldeprijs in April, before claiming three stages in the Giro d'Italia. Cavendish went on to win five stages in the Tour de France, en route to taking his first green jersey.
"I'm absolutely speechless but without my team this would not be possible. This award is a landmark for cycling. For cycling to be recognised in a non-Olympic year is unheard of," he said.
However the biggest win came in Copenhagen in September when he became the World champion, holding off the best sprinters in the world to win the rainbow jersey.
Cavendish rode for Bob Stapleton's HTC-Highroad in 2011. In 2012 he will ride for Team Sky, where he will be hoping to not only honour the rainbow jersey but win his second green jersey and the Olympic road race in London.
Mark Cavendish video highlights
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Winning the Olympic Test Event 2011 (Surrey Classic)
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Pre Tour de France on form and prospects
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On joining Sky and impending fatherhood
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Cav after his Worlds win