LONDON: Cyclist Geraint Thomas was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday, receiving British sport’s premier annual individual accolade in Birmingham as a reward for his remarkable Tour de France triumph. The Welshman, whose victory in cycling’s most prestigious race was the sixth by a British rider in seven years, topped the public vote ahead of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and England soccer captain Harry Kane. Thomas was the first Welshman to win the award since soccer player Ryan Giggs in 2009. Although he had previously been a double Olympic champion on the track, he had lived in the shadow of four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome in Team Sky until beating his team mate and defending champion in the 2018 race. Published in Daily Times, December 18th2018.