BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010 - Mark Cavendish

Throughout the week, we've been looking at the contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Chris Mayer takes a look at the Isle of Man's representative, cyclist Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish proved over the course of 2010 why he's the world's best road sprinter.

After last year's tremendous performance at the Tour De France, he added another 5 stage wins bringing his total to 15. However, the coveted green and yellow jersies still await for the HTC Colombia cyclist.

Cavendish didn't have the best of starts to the tour, crashing out on Stage 1 with just 3km to go. Replays showed that Cavendish went into the corner too fast and turned too late. It left Cavendish a mountain to climb to make his way up the standings.

Cavendish picked up wins on Stage 5 and 6 towards the end of the first flat sections. His late burst from the peloton saw him clinch a win going into Montagris. The Manx Missile was very emotional after the stage, proving the critics wrong after they had slated his earlier performances in the tour.

The Alps stages of the tour were next, not Cavendish's forte but he still finished within the top 10 several times, proving that his training on his native Isle of Man paid off. These stages tend to prove the mettle of any cyclist for the following days. A phenomenal test of endurance.

Stage 11, another flat stage was another victory for Cavendish although proved controversial as Cavendish's teammate Mark Renshaw was disqualified for headbutting Julian Dunn.

Another victory in Stage 18 for Cavendish, as the Tour de France closed in towards the capital. Cavendish's performance in the final stage was mesmeric as he sprinted clear with 300 yards remaining to ensure his arms were aloft going into the Champs Elysses, in front of a packed crowd

Cavendish has cemented his reputation as the best sprinter in the sport, and improvement in the climbing stages could mean that Cavendish could be wearing a famous jersey next year.

Odds of winning - 80/1

Verdict -  Another outsider, whose best years are still way ahead of him.