Bradley Wiggins, London 2012 time trial gold R
Bradley Wiggins remains on course to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year after he was named on the list of nominees this evening.
Sir Chris Hoy and Sarah Storey also appear on the list, but Wiggins remains the overwhelming favourite for the prize following his incredible 2012 season.
Britain's main bookmakers all say the Tour de France winner is the man to beat, with competition likely to come from double Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah and US Open champion Andy Murray.
If he is successful, Wiggins will become only the fourth cyclist to win the award. Tom Simpson was the first to do so in 1965, before Hoy and Mark Cavendish scooped the prize in 2008 and 2011 respectively.
Speaking about the announcement, British Cycling President Brian Cookson said: "It's phenomenal news that three of our cyclists are up for the UK's most prized annual sporting award. To be nominated for Sports Personality - especially after such a spectacular Olympic year for Team GB - is an amazing recognition of what has been achieved across our sport.
"Bradley Wiggins, our first winner of the Tour de France, Sir Chris Hoy, now Britain's most successful Olympian, and Sarah Storey - whose 11 Paralympic golds match Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's record - all thoroughly deserve their place on the shortlist.
"This comes a year after Mark Cavendish won the award and if a cyclist can do it again, it will further highlight just how mainstream our sport now is."
The prize will be awarded during a live ceremony from London's ExCeL Centre on Sunday, December 16. Votes can only be cast on the night.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012: The nominees
Nicola Adams
Ben Ainslie
Jessica Ennis
Mo Farah
Katherine Grainger
Sir Chris Hoy
Rory McIlroy
Andy Murray
Ellie Simmonds
Sarah Storey
David Weir
Bradley Wiggins
Related links
Mark Cavendish wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Cavendish eager to win Sports Personality says Wiggins
Cavendish's BBC SPOTY odds slashed by bookies
Cavendish and Clarke top bookies' list for BBC SPOTY
Cavendish on BBC Sports Personality shortlist
Garner on BBC Young Sports Personality shortlist
Reader comments
Add your comments
JD
November 27 09:34
I'll vote for the great Wiggins but it's a huge shame for some of the others on the list if they lose. Several of them would walk this competition in a normal year. Arise, Sir Mod.
Ken Evans
November 27 17:42
How many of those nominees are known outside of the UK ?
stuart stanton
November 28 13:17
Very PC, the list. Black, White, Male, Female, Able and Para-, Almost all the Home Countries - Wales only just gets in there via Elie Simmonds living in Swansea. So what happened to the overwhelming star of the Rugby Grand Slam, Dan Lydiate? Hailed and trumpeted by BBC pundits. Press and Public as the outstanding player in the Northern Hemisphere. Not that he would necessarily win but it again shows the underlying dislike of non-anglo success at the BBC. If I voted it would be for Wiggins, his response on winning should be an all-time great.TV moment