Cav hails impact of sport at SPOTY ceremony

Manx Missile received lifetime achievement award

Sir Mark Cavendish says it's a massive honour to receive the lifetime achievement award at this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The Manx Missile's record breaking career was recognised in last night's ceremony in Salford.

The 39-year-old confirmed his retirement at the end of the season after breaking the record for most stage wins at the Tour de France.

Speaking on stage at the awards, Cav hailed the impact sport can have:

During a memorable final season in 2024, Cavendish earned an unprecedented 35th Tour de France stage victory in July.

The previous month he was made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the King's Birthday Honours list for services to cycling and charitable work both on and off the Isle of Man.

That in turn came a few weeks after he'd recorded his 164th career victory, making him the most successful sprint cyclist of all-time.

Last month he took part in his last ever race - the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium - which he went on to win before retiring from competitive cycling straight after.