Both Chris Froome and Lizzie Armitstead are amongst the 12 sportspeople shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The awards’ website has described the achievements of the two cyclists as follows:
Chris Froome
Four years ago, a British cyclist had never won the gruelling three-week Tour de France. Now Froome has done it twice. He took over where 2012 winner Sir Bradley Wiggins left off by triumphing a year later, and claimed a second victory in July.
The Kenyan-born Team Sky rider showed great dignity as he shrugged off abuse, including being spat at and having urine thrown over him, to prevail again.
Lizzie Armitstead
A dream was realised when Armitstead became world road race champion with a breathtaking triumph in America. The Olympic silver medallist won the gruelling 130km race by a wheel in Richmond, Virginia. Armitstead also claimed the British title – just 11 days after being taken to hospital following a crash at the Women’s Tour.
The other 10 contenders are athletes Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, tennis player Andy Murray, F1’s Lewis Hamilton, footballer Lucy Bronze, boxer Tyson Fury, swimmer Adam Peaty, gymnast Max Whitlock and rugby league’s Kevin Sinfield.
