Britain's biggest riders snubbed by BBC despite historic season

They have been legends of the sport and have all had remarkable and historic years for different reasons, but there is no room on the shortlist for Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome.

They have had truly historic seasons, but Britain’s three best cyclists have been snubbed by the BBC in its most prestigious annual sporting awards.

The 16-strong shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year has been unveiled and while there are a number of cyclists in the running, the unquestionable top three of the sport in Britain are missing; Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Froome won the Tour de France again this year and a bronze medal in the TT at the Olympics.

Cavendish won four stages in the Tour de France, bringing his career tally to 30, and also took gold in the madison at the World Track Championships not to mention silver in the omnium in Rio.

Wiggins won that madison title with Cavendish before going on to take gold in the team pursuit in world record time at the Rio Olympics, his fifth gold medal at a Games.

Bradley Wiggins on the podium in Rio; his fifth Olympic gold and retiring not enough to get into Britain's top 16 sports personalities in a year not without serious controversy for him.

But despite those achievements, and Wiggins bowing out of competition this year, none of the three riders is included in the 16-person shortlist for the BBC’s awards.

Wiggins' reputation has been badly damaged in recent months since the details of the TUEs he was granted in his best years became public, even though he operated within the rules.

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Whether that in any way influenced his omission from the shortlist is not known.

On the list, as expected, are both Jason Kenney and Laura Kenny, the golden couple of British cycling and who both took gold medals in Rio.

Jason Kenny won three golds in Brazil, bringing his career total to six.

And Laura Kenny won two golds in Rio, taking her career told to four – the highest of any British sportswoman in history and she is still only 24-years-old.

Cavendish winning stage 6 into Montauban at the Tour de France in July (Photo: Sirotti)

Kadeena Cox, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis two years ago, took gold in the C4-5 TT at Paralympics in Rio and she also competed in athletics, taking gold in the T38 400m.

And the final cyclist on the BBC’s shortlist, Dame Sarah Storey, brought her Paralympic gold medal tally to a staggering 14 in Rio.

Having competed in the past in both cycling and swimming, she was returning to top level sport after becoming a mother three years ago.

And in Rio she won the C4-5 road race, individual pursuit and TT.

The nominees will go forward to a vote on the night of the BBC’s live show in Birmingham on Sunday fortnight, December 18th. Tennis pro Andy Murray is tipped by many to win.