1. Bradley Wiggins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVmg7apMgU Sport - Road Cycling The favourite for BBC Sports Personality Of The Year since the nominees (all of whom have been featured on this list) were first announced, Bradley Wiggins is a deserving winner of the accolade, having had a truly exceptional 12 months. Having won the Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium du Dauphiné early in the year, Wiggins entered the Tour de France, the most prestigious event in road cycling, as one of the favourites. The thirty-two year old duly delivered in winning the event, wearing the yellow jersey (worn by the overall leader throughout the twenty-one stage event), from stage seven to the tours conclusion, never relinquishing his advantage from that point onwards to become the first ever British victor of the tournament, with teammate and compatriot Chris Froome in a close second place. Merely a week later, Wiggins was once again competing on the highest stage, displaying superhuman levels of endurance as he played a supporting (and ultimately) futile role in Mark Cavendishs challenge for the Olympic road race. Putting this aside, he secured his fourth Olympic gold medal (and seventh overall a record amongst British athletes) in the time trial a few days later, with a time more than half a minute faster than the second-placed German competitor. Hoping to win the other two grand tours, the Giro DItalia and the Vuelta a España, before his retirement, Wiggins will play a supporting role in the 2013 Tour de France, presumably for Chris Froome, but his 2012 victory, amongst his other successes, will be remembered for a long time.