Geraint Thomas became the third Briton to win the Tour de France when he crossed the finish line in Paris. But it was a surprising victory as teammate Chris Froome, who has won the event four times, was expected to lead the race for Team Sky.

The Welshman rode in support of Froome in each of his four wins but claimed victory himself in his ninth Tour - one fewer than the record for most appearances before winning, held by 1980 winner Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands.

When he first rode the Tour in 2007, he finished 140th of the 141 finishers.

Image source, Getty Images

One of the contenders, Geraint Thomas is welcomed on stage. He looks extremely smart but I'm slightly disappointed he's not wearing a bright yellow suit.

Just because he can.

Billy Monger says it's a privilege to win the Helen Rollason Award:

"First of all I've got to say a massive thank you for this award.

"I came here last year and had the privilege of seeing Bradley Lowery's parents collect this award and it was such an emotional and special moment of the night.

"A massive thank you to my doctors, surgeons and everyone at QMC, quite simply, without these guys, I may not be here today.

"It's a real honour to be able to share the stage with them because the work they did for me, well...they saved my life."

Image source, BBC Sport

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport cycling expert

In a year when British riders completed an unprecedented clean sweep of victories in the sport’s Grand Tours, Geraint Thomas’ Tour de France win stands out. After Chris Froome won May’s Giro d’Italia for the first time to claim a third Grand Tour title on the trot, all eyes were on him winning a record-equalling fifth Tour title. But after five years of serving as domestique to Froome, Thomas emerged from the slipstream to prove his Grand Tour pedigree in superb style. And an honourable mention to Simon Yates, who maintained British domination of the three-week races with a superb victory in August’s Vuelta a Espana.

Image source, PA

Now we look back to British cycling's year which brought a sweeping victory in all three Grand Tours.

Geraint Thomas reflects on his first introduction to cycling.

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James Anderson is one of England’s greatest cricketers but if you watched his debut, you’d have known that! The young 20-year-old ran out against Zimbabwe at Lords in 2003 and looked a little nervous in his first over, which cost 17 runs. But in his third he bowled opener Mark Vermeulen and went on to finish the innings with 5-73 – the first of 26 five-wicket hauls in his Test career.

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Mike Donovan: What a credit Billy Monger is to his sport. Brilliant speech at SPOTY. Deserves every success in his career.

James Anderson is introduced on stage, alongside some of his England teammates including Alistair Cook and Stuart Broad.

Do you think the Burnley man appreciates Gareth Southgate's tie?

England cricketer James Anderson became the most successful pace bowler in Test history when his five wickets against India at The Oval in September took him past Australia great Glenn McGrath and on to 564 wickets.

The 36-year-old sits fourth on all-time list of Test wicket-takers, behind three spinners - Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble.He has taken more wickets against India than any other team - 110 in 27 matches – and more than three-quarters of those have come in England.

In the fifth Test at The Oval, Anderson became the oldest pace bowler to open the bowling for England for 22 years.

Who could forget Alastair Cook's swansong?

The 33-year-old ended his career as England's most capped player, their leading runscorer, and with his nation's highest number of centuries and catches to his name.

Oval gave him an honourable standing ovation and it was a day that will live long in the memory of England cricket fans.

Image source, BBC Sport

You will be able to vote for your BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018 during this year's programme - either by phone or for free online - but not until voting opens later in the show.

Do not call until voting opens. If you wish to vote online, you will need a BBC account. Details of how to get one can be found HERE.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport cricket expert

From Ashes humbling to whitewashing Sri Lanka via losing to Scotland and an unforgettable Alastair Cook swansong, England rebuilt this year and look to 2019 as the year they might finally get their hands on the World Cup. England women went all the way to the World T20 final but came up short against a superior Australia. Really, though, cricket in 2018 will forever be remembered for the piece of sandpaper that ended up in Cameron Bancroft’s pants.

Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at Sports Personality

I’m a bit starstruck right now... not for a person. For the actual World Cup. I’ve just been told it’s flown in from Zurich today especially for Spoty. (I’m not allowed to take photos!)

Five-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton hopes his younger self will be happy with the way his career has gone so far:

"It's been a long, long journey. I started when I was eight or nine.

"It was a dream for us all as a family, to come out and to do something different and do it as a team.

"The eight-year-old me hopefully would say he was proud."

On equalling Michael Schumacher's seven world titles:

"Honestly it's not my target. My aim is to improve, to get better and to grow as a man and as a competitor.

"So many of the sports men and women in here tonight will know, the competitiveness never leaves you.

"The great thing about this sport is I get to work with almost 2000 people in my team, so to rally these guys up and work with them throughout the year, it's an incredible journey."

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Lewis Hamilton brings Billy's mum to the front midway through his speech. Nice touch. She looks like the proudest person in here!

He jokes he's "just brought a few people along with him". Make that around 50?

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Billy Monger received a standing ovation as he came onto the stage. The young man is a hero.

He is grinning from ear-to-ear and getting a little bit teary as he collects his award.

This is such a lovely moment as coming up on stage now are many of Billy's friends and family, as well as around 40-50 members of the emergency services who were involved in his survival.

Billy said recently that his little sister Bonny "gave him the will to keep fighting", as she rushed to support him at the scene of the crash.

The award is being presented by Lewis Hamilton, who is Billy's hero.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's Billy Monger talking about his accident and how he dealt with the loss of his legs.