Aimee Howarth talks about her sporting hero, Cristiano Ronaldo
The Yorker's sports team says what they would like for Christmas this year
The second blog for The Yorker from the University of York Riding Club
Sports Editor James Tompkinson looks at York Sport in 2011 and gives his highlights from the year
Cavendish has been on the short-list in both 2009 and 2010, but on each occasion was harshly overlooked for a top three placing. But this year looks set to be different, with the bookies' odds currently indicating that he is favourite to claim the converted award. In those years he wowed the sport of cycling by claiming multiple stages in the Tours of Italy, Spain and of course France, as well as the prestigious Milan San Remo in 2009, known as one of the five 'monuments' of cycling. His list of career accomplishments is in fact so large that it has even merited its own wikipedia page! Not only have such results confirmed his as cycling's best sprinter by some margin, but also, despite still being the tender age of 26, as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.
But this season has been a vintage year for Cavendish, in which he has achieved certain career goals that has unquestionably established him as one of the great cyclists of all time. First there was the successful obtaining of the Green Jersey at July's Tour de France, the prize for the best sprinter over the three week race, which though Cavendish frequently wins many stages at he had up until this year remained allusice. This accomplishment was vital to the maturing of Cavendish, as it required him to ride both consistently and persistently in order to win, as merely continuing his speciality of sprinting quickly at the finish would not be enough to win. Then in September there was the aforementioned World Championships, a huge race in the calender that most cyclists will regard as one of the three races they'd most like to win. Though the Great Britain team have justifiably received much praise for helping Cavendish win that day, it was still required of the Manxman that he bring home the victory that day, which he did with lethal efficiency. These two victories have set this season apart for Cavendish, and ought to earn him the annual accolade this evening.
None of the other contenders have had a year that quite compares. The golfers may have had a very strong year, with Darren Clarke winning the Open, Rory McIlroy the US open and Luke Donald ending the year as world number one, but neither of them have managed both feats of being the world's leader at their discipline and taking major individual wins the same way Cavendish has. Athletics World Champions Mo Farah and Di Greene's real career goals come next year with the London Olympics, and though Alistair Cook has had a superb season, the Ashes triumph it shall mostly be remembered for was very much a team effort. On top of all this, Cavendish possesses the 'personality' factor of the award that is so often overlooked, being charismatic, loved by team-mates and a much-needed outspoken advocate of clean racing in the sport of cycling.
It has certainly been an excellent year for British sport, but Cavendish's season shines above all the rest. Ensure your vote goes towards him this evening and reward the Manx-missile the public recognition he deserves!
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