Geraint Thomas wins Sports Personality of the Year Award

Thomas became only the third Briton to win the Tour de France after Sir Bradley Wiggins six years ago and Chris Froome's run of four victories in the past five years.

F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second with Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane third.

England manager Gareth Southgate won coach of the year after coaching the country to fourth place at the World Cup finals in Russia.

"I really should have thought about what I was going to say," said Welshman Thomas on BBC1.

"As a bike rider, I always focus on myself. Obviously people want me to win, but hearing stories like Tyson (Fury's) and Billy (Monger)'s, you realise that what we do does inspire people back home.

"To see people on their bikes and enjoying it, you take just as much pride from that as winning something like this.

"I take great pride in representing Britain and Wales. It has been a great year for British sport and long may it continue."

The other sportsmen and women short-listed for the award were triple European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith, English cricket's record test wicket taker James Anderson and double Olympic skeleton champion, Lizzy Yarnold.

It completed a happy day for the 32-year-old Thomas at the end of an unsettling week in which Sky, sponsors of Team Sky, announced it would end its involvement with his team at the end of 2019.

Thomas picked up a replica of the winner's trophy from Tour de France organisers earlier on Sunday after the original was stolen from a cycling show.