Laura and Jason Kenny are bookies' favourite cyclists for BBC Sports Personality of the Year
The annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is rapidly approaching – we take a look at who the bookmakers are tipping for the coveted and sometimes controversial award
Laura Kenny (née Trott) and Jason Kenny are the cycling front-runners for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Laura Kenny became Britain's most decorated female Olympian in history at the Rio Games, taking her third and fourth gold medals in the omnium and team pursuit on the track.
Track sprinter Jason Kenny elevated himself among the all-time British sporting greats by claiming three gold medals in Rio in the sprint, keirin and team sprint to bring his Olympic gold tally to six.
The Olympic success of the pair and their subsequent marriage in September have established the status of Laura and Jason Kenny as household names in Great Britain.
Paralympic star Dame Sarah Storey is also rated by the bookies, having taken two gold medals on the road and one on the track in Rio to become Britain's most successful female Paralympian of all time.
Despite claiming his third Tour de France victory and bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Chris Froome does not figure highly in the bookies' predictions for the award.
All of the cycling stars will have to overcome overwhelming odds for tennis player Andy Murray to take a third SPOTY victory, having previously won in 2013 and again last year.
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Other bookies' favourites include runner Mo Farah, triathlete Alistair Brownlee, footballer Gareth Bale, gymnast Max Whitlock and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
Cyclists have fared pretty well in recent years: Sir Bradley Wiggins (2012), Mark Cavendish (2011) and Sir Chris Hoy (2008) have all won in the past 10 editions.
The final shortlist of 10 sportspeople is traditionally announced by the BBC at the end of November. The winner is chosen by public vote held during the live broadcast of the award ceremony, which takes place in Birmingham on Sunday, December 18 and broadcast live on BBC One.
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