Geraint Thomas crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018

Thomas wins atop La Rosiere during the 2018 Tour de France (Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA)

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

published 16 December 18

Geraint Thomas has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year after his historic Tour de France Victory.

Thomas became the first ever Welshman to win the Tour de France in 2018 during a momentous season for British cycling.

The 32-year-old was nominated alongside cricketer Jimmy Anderson, track runner Dina Asher-Smith, racing driver Lewis Hamilton, winter Olympian Lizzy Yarnold and England football captain Harry Kane.

>>> Geraint Thomas: ‘It’s been an incredible nine years. We want to go out on a high’

Nominations were revealed on Sunday night during the live broadcast on BBC One, with Thomas topping the public vote.

An emotional Thomas said: “I feel really lucky to have come into cycling when I did.

“I was just going down the leisure centre for a swim and ended up riding my bike. It’s insane, now I’m stood here.

“I’ve always thought I’m just focused on myself and people want me to win, but you realise that what we do does inspire people back home.

“To see people of all abilities and ages riding their bikes and living a healthy lifestyle, you can take as much pride in that as winning something like this.

“I take great pride in representing Britain and Wales when I’m racing abroad. It’s been an amazing year for British sport and long may it continue.”

>>> The moment a cycling fan bumped into a lost Geraint Thomas on a training ride in Wales

Thomas is the first Welshman to win Sports Personality since footballer Ryan Giggs in 2009.

The Team Sky rider made history in summer when he took home his first yellow jersey, ahead of Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) and team-mate Chris Froome.

Thomas’ victory contributed to a momentous year for British cycling, as all three Grand Tours were won by different riders from these isles.

Froome took the Giro d’Italia while Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) rode to a maiden Grand Tour victory in the Vuelta a España.

Thomas had already won the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year earlier this month.

He shot into the limelight after his Tour win, appearing on the Graham Norton Show alongside Nicole Kidman.

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.