Tag Archives: rainbow

Mark Cavendish "non-existent" chance of World title repeat

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World champ Cavendish says chances of repeat title are 'non-existent'

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UPDATED:

18:59 GMT, 22 September 2012

Mark Cavendish has played down his chances of retaining his world road race title in Holland, insisting they are 'non-existent' due to the gruelling nature of the Cauberg course.

Cavendish claimed the world champion's prestigious rainbow jersey by winning last year's race over a much more favourable course in Copenhagen, but is realistic about his hopes this time around.

End of the rainbow: Mark Cavendish says there's no chance of retaining the rainbow jersey

End of the rainbow: Mark Cavendish says there's no chance of retaining the rainbow jersey

Cavendish told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: 'The chances of retaking my world title are non-existent. Ten times around the Cauberg is just too much for me. We have to be realistic.

'I can't win, but I'm here out of respect for the jersey and because I'll be wearing race number one. I always enjoy racing in the colours of the national team.

'The Tour means a lot to my career, but as world champion you wear the most beautiful jersey ever for a year. The rainbow stripes have something magical. All great champions have worn them.'

The Great Britain team are expected to focus on trying to push recent Tour of Britain winner Jonathan Tiernan-Locke into medal contention.

Tiernan-Locke is better suited to the course, but still inexperienced over the 267km distance.

Bradley Wiggins handed back-up role for Great Britain at World Championships

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Wiggins handed back-up role as GB target further cycling glory at World Championships

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UPDATED:

15:50 GMT, 3 September 2012

Bradley Wiggins is set to play a team role for Great Britain at the Road World Championships later this month, for which double Olympic track champion Laura Trott is a surprise inclusion in the women's squad.

The World Championships are to take place in Limburg, Holland from September 15 to 23, with Wiggins and 23-time Tour stage winner Mark Cavendish, the defending road race champion, among the 14-man squad for the road race, with nine to start.

Laura Trott is named alongside sister Emma and Olympic road race silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead in the 12-woman squad, with seven to start.

Back seat: Wiggo's taking a break after Olympic and Tour de France glory

Back seat: Wiggo's taking a break after Olympic and Tour de France glory

Cavendish has been wearing the world champion's rainbow jersey since winning in Copenhagen last September, but it is anticipated he will relinquish his crown on an undulating course.

Wiggins, meanwhile, withdrew from contention for the individual time-trial event, in which he won Olympic gold and world silver in 2011.

British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford said: 'Once again we find ourselves in a very fortunate position of having a strong pool of riders across the board from which we can select the final team nearer the time.

'Brad has opted out of riding the time-trial at the worlds; this year's focus for him has been fully on the Tour de France and the Olympics, so to expect him to hold form going into the worlds is a big ask.'

Wiggins, who is set to be part of Team
Sky's Tour of Britain line-up next week, is joined in the squad by Tour
runner-up Chris Froome and Olympic team pursuit champions Geraint Thomas
and Peter Kennaugh, but there was no place for David Millar.

Surprise inclusion: Trott has been named in the squad

Surprise inclusion: Trott has been named in the squad

Thomas, Froome and Alex Dowsett, who last weekend won the British time-trial Championships, are in contention for the two places for the race against the clock.

Wendy Houvenaghel won the women's national title and is one of four riders named in the list for the two time-trial spots, despite leaving the Olympics in disgust after missing out on a place – and a medal – in the team pursuit.

Laura Trott won team pursuit and omnium gold in the velodrome and is more accustomed to riding on the track, but she is joined in the road race squad by Joanna Rowsell and Dani King, her fellow Olympic champions in the three-kilometre event.

Great Britain squad for the 2012 UCI Road World Championships

- Elite men – road race (nine to start)

Adam Blythe, Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Alex Dowsett, Andy Fenn,
Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Jeremy Hunt, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Ben
Swift, Jon Tiernan-Locke, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins.

- Elite men – time-trial (two to start)

Dowsett, Froome, Thomas

- Elite women – road race (seven to start)

Lizzie Armitstead, Hannah Barnes, Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke,
Catherine Hare, Nikki Harris, Dani King, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley,
Joanna Rowsell, Emma Trott, Laura Trott

- Elite women – time-trial (two to start)

Wendy Houvenaghel, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley, Julia Shaw

Mark Cavendish pleased with backing from Team Sky during Tour of Denmark

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Cavendish pleased with backing from Team Sky after winning final stage in Denmark

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UPDATED:

16:36 GMT, 26 August 2012

Mark Cavendish was grateful to receive the full backing of Team Sky as he claimed victory on the final stage of the Tour of Denmark.

Cavendish was put to fore by his team and set about chasing the day's breakaway, finishing strongly with a powerful sprint to take top honours on stage six in Frederiksberg.

The 27-year-old, back from an extended break following a disappointing Olympic experience, held off the attentions of Matteo Pelucchi (Europcar) and Andre Griepel at the line.

All smiles: Team Sky's Mark Cavendish before the start of the second stage of Tour of Denmark

All smiles: Team Sky's Mark Cavendish before the start of the second stage of Tour of Denmark

And after sealing his 12th victory of the season, Cavendish said: 'The team controlled the race the whole way.

'The lads had great faith in me and delivered me to the line perfect.

'I'm really happy to get the win and repay their hard work, especially as I haven't been in the best form recently.

'I won here in 2007 as well as winning the rainbow jersey in Denmark and it's great to come back here and win here again.'

Showing his form: Cavendish recovered from a disappointing Olympics to perform well in Denmark

Showing his form: Cavendish recovered from a disappointing Olympics to perform well in Denmark

The sprint finish allowed Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) to safely hold on to his overnight lead, the Dutchman clinching the yellow jersey by 19 seconds over nearest rival Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Sharp).

Team Sky also took away the team classification award for their efforts over the Tour.
Sports director Servais Knaven said: “It was the perfect way to finish off the race.

'The team were incredibly strong and controlled the race the whole day. After 25km we started riding and chased down a small breakaway.

'We are really happy with the performance here.'

Tour of Britain route unveiled

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On your bikes! Tour of Britain route unveiled… and it's the longest ever

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UPDATED:

13:32 GMT, 26 April 2012

Tour of Britain organisers hope a summer of success for British cycling continues into the autumn after announcing a route which should see the tussle for victory go to the wire.

With Team Sky riders Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish seeking Tour de France success in July and Olympic success immediately afterwards, Britain's prospects on two wheels in 2012 are better than ever.

And the longest Tour of Britain yet at 1,349.9 kilometres, which begins on September 9 in Ipswich and ends a week later, could make it an Indian summer, with a battle for podium places until the finish in Guildford.

Let's go: Mark Cavendish has a long summer ahead of him

Let's go: Mark Cavendish has a long summer ahead of him

Race director Mick Bennett said: 'We've got a race of two halves.

'The initial first four stages are designed for the sprinter, rouleur-types, rather than the climbers.

'Then the race gradually builds – from Stoke-on-Trent, through Wales, Devon, all the way to the final day in Guildford – in severity.

'People may think the Devon stage is going to the decider, but we've gone right down to the wire this time with a stage in the Surrey Hills to Guildford.

'It's not for the faint-hearted, you'd be a fool if you threw everything at the Welsh and the Devon stage and wasted yourself prior to Guildford.

'The final climb of the whole race comes with about 25km to go, White Down. It's dreadful. It really is a horrible climb.

'If you're in yellow you're going to need to really defend vigorously on the final stage – it certainly won't be an exhibition stage.'

Cavendish could compete for the final time as the 2011 world champion and parade his rainbow jersey around the country in a race which can provide key preparation for the 2012 World Championships in Limburg, Holland the following week.

Asked about Cavendish's participation, Bennett said: 'I think it would be highly probable, but there's never a guarantee.'

For the first time since 2008, when the race finished in Liverpool as part of the city's European capital of culture celebrations, the event will end outside of London on a cobbled finish in Guildford.

Pack: Team Sky's Cavendish of Britain (left-right), team mate Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas

Pack: Team Sky's Cavendish of Britain (left-right), team mate Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas

The final Surrey stage is different to the route for the Olympic road race which Cavendish is hoping to win on July 28.

There are challenges hosting a true Tour of Britain, featuring all regions of the country, while last year, for the first time, Hurricane-force winds forced the cancellation of a stage, leaving Bennett to become something of a meteorologist in the lead-up to this year's race.

In a packed calendar, the race has had to battle to retain a desirable date in the calendar, too.

As well as Cavendish and Wiggins, who took part in the event in 2010, there could be an opportunity to see some of Britain's track stars, who are vying for Olympic glory in August.

Team pursuit squad members Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh (both Team Sky), Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant (both Rapha Condor Sharp) and Steven Burke (Team IG-Sigma Sport) could all participate in the Tour, if selected by their teams.

Bennett, a team pursuit bronze medallist at the 1972 and 1976 Games, is amazed by the prospect of Britain clocking three minutes 50 seconds over 4km in London.

'It would be astonishing for them to do that and I'd dearly love to see it,' he said.

British women"s team pursuit win gold at Track Cycling World Championship

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They've done it again! British trio set new world record en route to glory over Australia

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UPDATED:

10:30 GMT, 5 April 2012

Great Britain's Joanna Rowsell, Dani King and Laura Trott set a sensational second world record of the day to win three-kilometre team pursuit gold on day two of the Track Cycling World Championships at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.

The trio clocked three minutes 15.720 seconds to ensure Britain have now won four of the five team pursuit titles since the event was incorporated into the World Championships programme.

Golden girls: The British trio of Danielle King (left), Laura Trott (centre) and Joanna Rowsell celebrate after beating Australia

Golden girls: The British trio of Danielle King (left), Laura Trott (centre) and Joanna Rowsell celebrate after beating Australia

Australia's Annette Edmondson,
Melissa Hoskins and Josephine Tomic were second in 3mins 16.943secs –
also under the previous world record set this afternoon – as the battle
for Olympic glory in London in August intensified.

Australia clocked 3:17.053 in
qualifying – beating Britain's mark from February – before Rowsell, King
and Trott went faster still in 3:16.850.

Hat-trick: The British trio smashed the world record in Melbourne

Hat-trick: The British trio broke the world record twice on Thursday

The unchanged British trio – with
2008, 2009 and 2011 world champion Wendy Houvenaghel a mere spectator –
wound up after a start which saw them trail by almost 1.5 seconds with a
phenomenal final kilometre to win by 1.233secs.

It meant King and Trott retained the
title won in Apeldoorn in March 2011 and Rowsell claimed a first world
champion's rainbow jersey since Pruszkow in 2009.

On song: Pendleton advanced to the semi-finals of the women's sprint

On song: Pendleton advanced to the semi-finals of the women's sprint

Canada's Tara Whitten, Jasmin
Glaesser and Gillian Carleton won the race for bronze in 3:19.529, with
New Zealand's Lauren Ellis, Jaime Nielson and Alison Shanks fourth in
3:19.847.

Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton advanced to the semi-finals of the women's sprint.

After successfully negotiating the early rounds, Pendleton met Virginie Cueff of France in the best-of-three quarter-final.

Over the line: The trio celebrate after beating Australia on their own turf

Over the line: The trio celebrate after beating Australia on their own turf

The first bout saw Pendleton come round Cueff on the final bend and win by a bike length. The Briton led from the front in the second to win by a convincing margin once more and go through to the last four tomorrow evening.

Rowsell won her first team pursuit world title in Manchester in 2008 when the event was not on the Olympic programme, triumphing alongside Houvenaghel and Rebecca Romero.

All smiles: The Team GB riders are gold-medal hopes

All smiles: The Team GB riders are gold-medal hopes for this summer's Games

The 23-year-old won again in Poland 12 months later, with Houvenaghel and Lizzie Armitstead, before her latest victory.

Rowsell said: 'I can't believe I'm world champion again – it's been three years.

'I so badly wanted that rainbow jersey back. I'm absolutely over the moon.

'I was so pleased with our qualifying ride. To see the world record broken before our ride is always quite tough. We saw that happen to the team sprint girls yesterday.

'We had to keep our heads, do our own ride. We went out rode to a schedule and actually beat it.

'It was great to go into the final fastest qualifiers and we knew we had more in the tank.

'I felt good in the final, Laura was awesome, Dani was absolutely awesome as well.

'The Australians went out fast, but we stuck to our plan to go out steady and hold pace.

'We knew we could go fast – in the qualifier we beat them in the last couple of laps.'

The partisan spectators were in raptures early on, but soon silenced as Britain clawed back the deficit before overhauling their hosts in emphatic fashion.

King said: 'At the London World Cup the Australians were saying they had a disadvantage with our amazing home crowd.

'I think we proved that even without a home crowd we can still do it. It was really good.

'They did a fast ride in the qualifier and we just came out to do a better ride, which we did.'

London 2012 Olympics Watch: Pendleton"s gold Varnish

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London 2012 Olympics Watch: Pendleton's gold Varnish

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UPDATED:

22:15 GMT, 1 April 2012

Victoria Pendleton's team-sprint
partner Jess Varnish has pledged to aid the 31-year-old's bid for triple
Olympic gold this summer.

Pendleton won the only title
available to her at the 2008 Olympics, but a change to the programme
means she can go for three medals in London.

Medal hopes: Varnish (left) and Pendleton going for cycling gold

Medal hopes: Varnish (left) and Pendleton going for cycling gold

'I want to do the best job for the team and that is for Vicky,' Varnish said ahead of the Track Cycling World Championships which start on Wednesday in Melbourne.

'Hopefully I'll be up to it.'

Hopes are high as the pair set a world record of 32.754 seconds in the two-woman, two-lap team sprint in February.

'It's slightly daunting when people say, “Jess has got so much potential” because you want to live up to it,' Varnish added.

Sportsmale runs for charity

The Olympic Stadium was handed over to charities on Sunday with hundreds of fun runners given the chance to race on the track Usain Bolt and Co will seek gold on this summer.

Life in the fast lane: Alex Kay

Life in the fast lane: Alex Kay

Among them, running for the children's charity the Rainbow Trust, was Sportsmail's Alex Kay.

But his 100 metres race did not end in glory as he finished third in 14.05sec. No Team GB place, then.

Gallant effort: Kay finished third

Gallant effort: Kay finished third

White in GB volleyball squad

British Volleyball programme administrator Neil White has quit his role to try and win a place in coach Harry Brokking's Olympics squad.

White has been added to the 16-man squad Brokking named on Friday.

He caught the Dutch tactician's eye while playing domestically for Sheffield and was added to the party as an extra libero – offering support to regular starter, Dan Hunter.

London 2012 Olympics: Sportsmail reporter tackles 100m sprint

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No need to worry, Usain! Sportsmail reporter tackles Olympic Stadium 100m sprint

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UPDATED:

22:47 GMT, 1 April 2012

The Olympic Stadium was handed over to charities on Sunday with hundreds of runners given the chance to race on the track Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis and Co will go for gold on this summer.

The Gold Challenge gave dozens of charities the chance to use the facilities at the venue in Stratford, east London for the day, with celebrities such as Katie Price, Steve Backley and Austin Healy invited along to promote good causes.

Under starter's orders: The competitors take some final advice from event staff

Under starter's orders: The competitors take some final advice from event staff

And they're off! Kay (centre) races down the track

And they're off! Kay (centre) races down the track

Among the competitors, running for the children's charity the Rainbow Trust, was Sportsmail's Alex Kay. But his 100 metres race did not end in glory as he finished third in 14.05secs in a race in which Healy finished second.

Kay was a little rusty out the blocks but recovered well, only to miss out on the Olympic qualifying time. No place in Team GB then…

Final push: The pain starts to show as Kay heads for the finishing line

Final push: The pain starts to show as Kay heads for the finishing line

Photo finish: Kay is placed third, just behind Healy (left)

Photo finish: Kay is placed third, just behind Healy (left)

This weekend was the first time the stadium has been used, with competitors put through exercises in the warm-up area under the stadium before their races and photographed on the podium after the finish. All competitors were given medals to mark the day.

Podium finish: The effort was worth it as Kay punches the air, celebrating his third-place performance

Podium finish: The effort was worth it as Kay punches the air, celebrating his third-place performance

For more information on the Rainbow Trust, please visit: www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

Chris Hoy wins gold in sprint at Velodrome

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Hoy's gold run goes on as British star wins sprint on final day at Velodrome

Sir Chris Hoy claimed his second gold medal of the Track World Cup at London's Olympic Velodrome with victory in the men's sprint.

After winning the Keirin on day three, Hoy beat Germany's Maximilian Levy 2-0 to win the cat-and-mouse discipline and once again illustrate his supreme form in Olympic year.

Sprint star: Sir Chris Hoy battles with Maximilian Levy at the Velodrome

Sprint star: Sir Chris Hoy battles with Maximilian Levy at the Velodrome

In the second bout, Levy attempted to round Hoy on the back straight, but the Scot had the inside line and responded by showing a trademark acceleration to coast to victory.

It was Britain's third medal of the day, after the team pursuit squad of Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh had to settle for silver behind arch-rivals Australia and Laura Trott took bronze in the women's multi-discipline omnium.

In the team pursuit, world champions Australia qualified fastest on Thursday night, with the teams made to wait for the final to satisfy the television schedule demands to show the blue ribband event.

Pure delight: Hoy earned a standing ovation for his performance

Pure delight: Hoy earned a standing ovation for his performance

The 'Ashes' duel did not disappoint as Australia's Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Alex Edmondson and Michael Hepburn won in three minutes 54.615 – the third fastest time in history – and the British quartet finished in 3mins 56.330secs.

Australia's time was behind only Britain's world record of 3:53.314, set in winning gold in Beijing in 2008, and another effort by the hosts from November 2009.

Meanwhile Jason Kenny experienced mixed
emotions on the final day of the Track World Cup after struggling to
fulfil his own expectations while wearing the world champion's rainbow
jersey at the Olympic Velodrome in London.

It
was Kenny's one opportunity to wear the coveted prize – one he
inherited last month after France's Gregory Bauge was stripped of the
2011 title for an anti-doping infringement – ahead of April's Track
Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.

Final effort: Kenny finishes fifth in the men's sprint

Final effort: Kenny finishes fifth in the men's sprint

But
the 23-year-old from Bolton qualified sixth fastest, handing him a
challenging route through the knockout rounds, and he was beaten in the
quarter-finals by Germany's Maximilian Levy before responding to win the
race for fifth place ahead of compatriot Matt Crampton, Bauge and
Japan's Kazunari Watanabe.

And Victoria Pendleton was unable to follow Hoy's lead, finishing fifth in the women's Keirin behind winner Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania.

Pendleton, who on Friday's second day won the team sprint alongside Jess Varnish, was seeking to respond from her fourth place in the individual sprint but could not round the field on the final lap.

Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong was second with Guo Shuang of China third. World champion Anna Meares of Australia was sixth.

No response: Pendleton eventually finished fifth in the Keirin

No response: Pendleton eventually finished fifth in the Keirin

Jason Kenny awarded world title after Gregory Bauge ruling

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Kenny awarded world championship track cycling crown after Bauge doping ruling

Great Britain's Jason Kenny has been confirmed as world champion after cycling's world governing body announced France's Gregory Bauge has been stripped of his title for an anti-doping infringement.

Bauge's results at last year's Track Cycling World Championships were declared null and void after the ruling and Kenny has been awarded the gold medal.

The 22-year-old from Bolton said: “The news came as quite a surprise and whilst it's an honour to get my first senior World Championship title, I would have preferred to have achieved it under different circumstances.

Tarnished: Gregory Bauge (centre) claimed gold ahead of Jason Kenny (left) and Sir Chris Hoy at the track cycling world championships

Tarnished: Gregory Bauge (centre) claimed gold ahead of Jason Kenny (left) and Sir Chris Hoy at the track cycling world championships

'I am looking forward to riding the rest of the season wearing the rainbow jersey.'

Kenny will wear the world champion's rainbow jersey up to the 2012 World Championships, which take place in Melbourne in April.

Bauge, who beat Kenny in the final in
Apeldoorn, Holland, last March, was last November issued with a
one-year back-dated suspension from December 23, 2010 to December 22,
2011 for a 'violation of article 21.4 of the UCI Anti-doping Regulation
(two breaches of applicable requirements regarding rider availability
and one missed test in 18 months)'.

A statement from the International
Cycling Union (the UCI) read: “The UCI today informed the FFC
(Federation Francaise de Cyclisme) that all the results obtained by the
rider and by any team of which he was a member during that period have
been nullified by this decision.

'The UCI is therefore obliged to correct the results of the events in which Gregory Bauge participated during this period.

'As a consequence, the rider and the
French team lose their individual sprint and team sprint titles won at
the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in March 2011.'

Sir Chris Hoy is to be awarded silver behind Kenny after his bronze-medal finish in the individual sprint.

Germany trio Rene Enders, Maximilian
Levy and Stefan Nimke have been given the team sprint crown from France,
with France's Michael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau stripped of their
title due to team-mate Bauge's offence.

Britain's Kenny, Hoy and Matt Crampton have been promoted from bronze to silver, with Australia awarded third place.

Mark Cavendish wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year award

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BBC crown Cav! Cycling ace pips Clarke to Sports Personality of the Year award

Road cycling finally entered the British sporting mainstream courtesy of the Manx Missile.

The passion which fuels Cavendish on his bike was in evidence again in front of 850 guests at the BBC’s swanky new Media City studios in Manchester as the 26-year-old collected the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and drew the admiration of the audience.

The only previous road racer to win this award in the 58 years of its staging was Tommy Simpson in 1965.

In the spotlight: Cavendish wins the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

In the spotlight: Cavendish wins the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

Top three: Cavendish scoops the main gong, with Open champion Clarke in second spot and athlete Mo Farrah in third

Top three: Cavendish scoops the main gong, with Open champion Clarke in second spot and athlete Mo Farrah in third

Since then, the sport has struggled to engage the British sporting public but Cavendish’s extraordinary habit of winning sprint finishes by margins which are embarrassing to his rivals has hoisted him on to a pedestal which cannot be ignored.

His margin of victory last night was equally emphatic.

His 20th Tour de France stage win in July — only five men have won more — confirmed the first green points jersey ever won by a Briton, while his surge to victory in Copenhagen inSeptember earned him the world road race champion’s coveted rainbow jersey.

Making his Mark: Cavendish took the Tour de France Green Jersey and Rainbow Jersey in a quite brilliant year

Making his Mark: Cavendish took the Tour de France Green Jersey and Rainbow Jersey in a quite brilliant year

Number 1: The British sprint king saw off competition from Darren Clarke to claim the top prize

Number 1: The British sprint king saw off competition from Darren Clarke to claim the top prize

Close call: Open champion Darren Clarke Nominated: Hurdler Dai Greene and cricketer Alistair Cook were up for the coveted title and looked ecstatic on the red carpet

On the red carpet: Open champion Darren Clarke and hurdler Dai Greene arrive for the ceremony

Cavendish believes that success can be emulated with victory in the men’s road race on the opening day of the London Olympics next July as Britain seeks the first gold medal of its home Games.

Cavendish said: ‘I thrive off pressure. It’s the first medal on offer at the Olympic Games and everybody is looking at me and my team to win our first gold. There could not be a more perfect way to go to the Olympics than as the current Sports Personality of the Year.

‘This award is not something you can work for because it’s voted on by the public. It’s an honour given to you. You can’t control that.

Take bat: England captain Andrew Strauss takes the plaudits as England take the Team of Year award

Take bat: England captain Andrew Strauss takes the plaudits as England take the Team of Year award

Sports personality of the Year: Who won what

‘What is incredible now in Britain is to see so many families and so many kids wanting to get on their bikes.

‘It puts a smile on my face to see that and gives you such pride when you feel so passionate about your sport.’

They may have missed out on the individual awards but, as has become their wont, England’s Test cricketers weren’t about to leave without the evening’s other prestigious gongs.

Andrew Strauss’ men were rewarded forretaining the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years by being named runaway winners of the Team of the Year.

Strauss said: ‘It is a very special award to win when you look at the names who have won it before. The one thing we have all bought into in the past couple of years is that the team is more important than the individual.’

The tactical architect of that Ashes triumph, Andy Flower, was crowned Coach of the Year. Given the shamblingdisunity surrounding the England football and rugby union teams at the moment, the cricketers might retain the honour 12 months from now if they maintain their position as the number one Test team in the world.

Flower said: ‘We have concentrated ona few simple basics. Hard work and a little bit of honesty amongst the group has made them a tougher bunch to beat. We, of course, drive them to train harder and become tougher competitors and consequently they handle themselves very well under pressure.’

Centre stage: Lauren Taylor wins the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and receives her award from Roberto Mancini and Jess Ennis

Centre stage: Lauren Taylor wins the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and receives her award from Roberto Mancini and Jess Ennis

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, who also won the Australian and US Opens in a year in which he won 64 ofhis first 66 matches to claim the world number one ranking, won the Overseas Personality Award.

He lived up to its description by being ensconced in an Arabian idyll ahead of a prestigious post-Christmas exhibition event in the UAE rather than braving a chilly Manchester evening.

Making his Mark: Cavendish with his partner Peta Todd

Making his Mark: Cavendish with his partner Peta Todd

The handkerchiefs were out as Bob Champion was recognised for his charity work with the Helen Rollason Award and again as Sir Steve Redgrave received his Lifetime Achievement Award from HRH Princess Anne.