If the bookies are to be believed, Mark Cavendish is set to crown the most successful year of his professional cycling career by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

He's now overtaken golfer Darren Clarke as favourite to pick up the prestigious gong in December.

If he does win it, he'll become only the third cyclist, after Tommy Simpson and Sir Chris Hoy, to do so.

Open champion Clarke had been the favourite since his triumph earlier this year, but a series of successes - such as securing the Tour de France green jersey and the world road race championship - has seen Cavendish pull clear like during one of his trademark sprint finishes.

In the Daily Mail, Cav is quoted as saying, "I’ve never craved popularity, or celebrity status, but wider recognition of what I’ve achieved does mean a lot to me because it’s an appreciation, of what you’ve been through.

"I’ve always respected people who have worked hard to achieve, and the substance of achievement ahead of cardboard celebrity."