The 10 contenders for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award were revealed yesterday, and sprint sensation Mark Cavendish has been nominated.

Also featured is Formula One champion Jenson Button world champion diver Tom Daley, Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, heptathlete Jessica Ennis, triple jumper Phillips Idowu, heavyweight boxer David Haye, England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, tennis star Andy Murray and world gymnastics champion Beth Tweddle.

The 10 athletes will be put to a public vote when the show airs on Sunday 13 December on BBC One.

Let’s just remind ourselves, as if it were needed, of what Cavendish has achieved in his short time as a professional cyclist. The 24-year-old has made history by winning six stages of the Tour de France, winning on the fabled Champs-Elysees this year, the first Brit to do so. Among his 23 victories this year was his staggering dash for the line in the Milan-San Remo classic, plus wins in the Giro d’Italia.

So, make sure you tune in and vote, and see if Sir Chris Hoy can pass his 2008 award over to another cyclist.