MARK CAVENDISH’S REMARKABLE year in the saddle was recognised last night at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

The Manx cyclist, who won the points classification green jersey at the Tour de France and the UCI World Road Race in 2011, took the top prize at the annual ceremony which was held for the first time at BBC’S new home in MediaCity, Salford.

“I am absolutely speechless, some of my team-mates here will say that is a rare thing,” Cavendish said in his acceptance speech.

I had a group of guys who rode in Copenhagen who brought the rainbow jersey back to Britain after nearly half a century and that is a massive thing. Even to be nominated in the top 10 is an incredible thing.

British Open champion Darren Clarke finished as runner-up in the main Sports Personality of the Year category while long-distance runner Mo Farah was third.

The evening’s other winners were teenage golfer Lauren Taylor (Young Sports Personality), Novak Djokovic (Overseas Sports Personality), England’s test cricketers (Team of the Year) and their coach Andy Flower (Coach of the Year), Olympic rower Steve Redgrave (Lifetime Achievement), and athletics coaches Janice Eaglesham and Ian Mirfin (Unsung Hero).