Chris Froome awarded OBE in New Year's Honours list

Tour de France winner recognised on list of honours by the Queen alongside British Cycling president Robert Howden

Chris Froome on stage fourteen of the 2015 Tour de France

(Image credit: Watson)

Chris Froome (Team Sky) has been awarded an OBE for services to cycling in the New Year's Honours list.

Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France multiple times when he took his second overall win this summer.

Also included on the New Year's list is Bob Howden, president of British Cycling.

"I am extremely humbled and very proud to receive this honour," said Froome. "It is obviously further recognition for the sport of cycling and it caps a fantastic year for me professionally and personally. It wouldn’t be possible without the help of my team-mates, coaches and of course the love and support from my family."

Howden’s OBE comes in the third year of his presidency and after a volunteering career which started over 40 years ago. His services to cycling include race organising, regional committees and a place on the British Cycling board.

British Cycling President Bob Howden

British Cycling President Bob Howden
(Image credit: Luke Webber)

He said: “Naturally I feel very proud to have been honoured by Her Majesty but, like the thousands of volunteers up and down the country who help put on bike races, organise club runs, coach young people and help out in a thousand different ways, I’ve really been motivated by love of the sport.

“Volunteering in cycling is incredibly rewarding, I would recommend it to anyone of any age and I'm an example how far volunteers can progress in this great sport."

Several cyclists have been honoured by the Queen in the past decade, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Dame Sarah Storey and Mark Cavendish, who was awarded an MBE in 2011.

Froome's general manager at Sky, Dave Brailsford, was given an MBE in 2005, a CBE in 2009, and a knighthood in 2013.

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