Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas wins BBC award

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Geraint Thomas has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year after becoming the third British cyclist to win the Tour de France.

In a public vote, Thomas beat five-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton — a former winner of the BBC award — into second place, while England soccer captain Harry Kane, who led his team to the World Cup semifinals, was third.

The 32-year-old Welshman joined Bradley Wiggins (2012) and Chris Froome (2013, '15, '16, '17) as Britons to win the Tour de France. Wiggins has won the BBC award, but Froome never has.

"It's been an amazing year for British sport," Thomas said, "and long may it continue."

Associated Press