BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2018: Geraint Thomas wins award

Cyclist Geraint Thomas is the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 2018, winning the award for the second time after topping the vote in 2014.

This year the 32-year-old became the first Welshman, and just the third Briton, to win road cycling's biggest prize the Tour de France.

"It's massive [the award], it's something I always grew up watching when I was younger," Thomas told BBC Sport Wales.

"Just to be nominated shows you've done something special in the year, so to win it and have everyone vote for me is really nice, and it's a lovely way to finish off the year."

Snooker player Mark Williams was second having claimed the World Championship for the third time, 15 years after his last success, with Laura Deas third after her bronze in the skeleton made her Wales' first Winter Olympics medallist.

Cardiff Devils were named Team of the Year after lifting ice hockey's Elite League title and being crowned Play-off champions.

Coach of the Year went to Jayne Ludlow, after she led Wales to within a whisker of qualifying for the 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson received the Lifetime Achievement award

The Lifetime Achievement award went to Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of the finest track para-athletes of all time who won 11 gold medals over five Paralympic Games - 16 medals in all - and two World Championships during her career.

Jockey James Bowen won the Carwyn James young sportsman crown with cyclist Elynor Backstedt taking the young sportswoman award.

Results of the public vote were revealed at the Wales Sport Awards at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on Tuesday night, where BBC Cymru Wales and Sport Wales celebrated Welsh sporting success.

Footballer Gareth Bale, cyclist Elinor Barker and Paralympic skier Menna Fitzpatrick were also on the six-strong shortlist for BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2018.

Rugby union player Jonathan Davies took the award in 2017, joining a list of winners that includes Welsh sporting greats such as footballer Ryan Giggs, boxer Joe Calzaghe and Grey-Thompson.

Other awards which were given on the night included:

• Volunteer of the Year - Gareth Lanagan

• Community Coach of the Year - Aled Jones-Davies

• The Inspiring Young Person award - Fran Smith

• The Getting Wales Active award - Get Out, Get Active

• Organisation of the Year award - The Outdoor Partnership

• BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero - Asa Waite

Voting for BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2018 opened at 08:00 GMT on Monday, 26 November and closed at 18:00 GMT on Sunday, 2 December.

This event is not connected with the UK Sports Personality of the Year and is for the Wales award only.