The Isle of Man cyclist took nearly 50 per cent of the public vote ahead of golfer Darren Clarke and athlete Mo Farah after a year in which he became the first Briton to win the green jersey in the Tour de France and won the road race title at the World Championships.
The success of Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins in the Tour in recent years has increased the profile of the sport massively in Britain, and the 26-year-old described it as a landmark for cycling that he was able to win the award in a non-Olympic year.
Reflecting on the public’s reaction to him, Cavendish said: "It’s been like this in other countries for three years now. I’ve been overseas sports personality in Belgium twice.
“I take it as a positive that people actually know about cycling. Before people might have recognised me in a picture with my helmet and glasses on as that guy who does well in the Tour de France.
“Now there’s a recognition of what we’ve done. That’s what makes me proud, to see cycling in people’s homes. It’s a sport I love, a sport I care about more than anything and the fact more people are interested in it means more than anything to me.”

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