Britain’s cyclist Mark Cavendish has been attracting some interest in the 2011 Sports Personality of the Year betting, after winning the Green Jersey for the first time this year at the Tour de France. The coveted jersey goes to the best sprinter in the event, edged himself over the finish line at the Champs-Elysees in the event’s final stage, to win his 20th Tour de France stage of his career. Cavendish, 26, has been gunning so hard for the Green Jersey, and he is one of the world’s specialist and most devastating sprinters in the sport. So now has this latest accolade of his, done enough to put in the frame to make Mark Cavendish 2011 Sports Personality of the Year betting a worthy punt? Well it certainly makes him a good outside one. Truthfully the list of candidates is not too strong this year. Cavendish is now trading at 20/1 with Boylesports to win the honours at the end of the year, but it is two golfers from Northern Ireland who are duelling it out at the top of the 2011 Sports Personality of the Year betting. Darren Clarke, following his heroics at the Open Championship, has been installed as new favourite, and can be taken around Evens at BetFair. His fellow countryman Rory McIlroy is second favourite, just behind at 2/1 with BetFred after the youngster won his first Major at the US Open. So why the disparity? Well, it is likely to come down to an age thing. Clarke has reached 40 years of age and to many, has won a Major in the twilight of his career, and is unlikely to get back there again. So it could be a sympathy vote for him, as for McIlroy, he has all the time in the world to show his worth by winning more golf Majors. However, it could be argued that he is more deserving of the Sports Personality of the Year award, after performing so well at The Masters as well. There is still the chance he could get another strong performance in the final Major, the USPGA Championships later this month, so he is good value. Athlete Jessica Ennis, who has shown again recently that she is a genuine world class act with a medals haul at trials, is also in the hunt, but she is unlikely to make an impact until she lands that Olympic gold, hopefully next year. The only other major name on the horizon is that of Andy Murray. The US Open is coming up at the end of August, and should he win that, it would be hard to see him not picking up the Sports Personality of the Year award. It would be a now or perhaps never again chance to reward his efforts.
2011 Sports Personality of the Year Betting
Darren Clarke: Evens at BetFair
Rory McIlroy: 2/1 at BetFred
Jessica Ennis: 14/1 at William Hill
Mark Cavendish: 20/1 at Boylesports
Andy Murray: 25/1 at BetFred
Mark Cavendish 2011 Sports Personality of the Year Award Betting
1st August 2011 /
