British sprint king Mark Cavendish has been shortlisted for the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

It is the second successive year Cavendish has made the 10-strong list, with the HTC-Columbia rider securing 55,960 votes in 2009 to take fourth spot behind Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs, last year’s Formula One world champion Jenson Button and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis respectively.

And the 25-year-old has enjoyed another stellar 12 months, proving himself to be the world’s quickest sprinter yet again, winning five stages of the Tour de France to take his overall tally to 15.

The Manx Missile followed that up by winning the Vuelta a Espana points jersey in September, becoming the first Briton in 21 years to earn the sprinters’ title at a Grand Tour.

Ennis, who added the European title to her world crown, double Commonwealth Games gold medallist Tom Daley, heavyweight boxer David Haye, jump jockey AP McCoy and Ryder Cup victors Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood also make the list, put together by a panel of 30 sports editors from newspapers and magazines.

England cricketer Graeme Swann, 13-time world darts champion Phil Taylor and Winter Olympic bob skeleton gold medallist Amy Williams also make the cut.

The 10 sportsmen and women will now compete for the public vote during the live show on Sunday December 19 from 7-9pm.  

The public will be able to vote for their BBC Sports Personality of the Year by telephone; details of the numbers to vote on will be given out during the programme.