Sports Personality of the Year result: Geraint Thomas claims top spot at BBC SPOTY 2018

Relive SPOTY 2018

Mo Farah's coach appears shocked at his Sports Personality of the Year win

Cyclist Geraint Thomas was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday, receiving British sport's premier annual individual accolade in Birmingham as a reward for his remarkable Tour de France triumph.

The Welshman, whose victory in cycling's most prestigious race was the sixth by a British rider in seven years, topped the public vote ahead of Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and England soccer captain Harry Kane.

The other sportsmen and women short-listed for the award were triple European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith, English cricket's record test wicket taker James Anderson and double Olympic skeleton champion, Lizzy Yarnold.

Relive all of the drama below.

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Key Points

• Main winner expected to be announced at 9pm

[16 December 2018 19:03 · Kishan Vaghela]

Hello, and welcome to our coverage of the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. 

Live from Birmingham, we will have you covered all the way, and who will be named the next winner after Mo Farah last year. 

[16 December 2018 19:06 · Kishan Vaghela]

The presenters are in the building!

Clare Balding, Gary Lineker and Gabby Logan will reveal the nominations.

[16 December 2018 19:08 · Kishan Vaghela]

The six nominations have been announced.

James Anderson, Dina Asher-Smith, Geraint Thomas, Harry Kane, Lizzy Arnold and Lewis Hamilton, the latter in a very jazzy jacket.

[16 December 2018 19:11 · Kishan Vaghela]

Gareth Southgate would not have been surprised by Harry Kane's nomination this year.

But he did arrive without a waistcoat tonight on the red carpet in Birmingham.

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[16 December 2018 19:15 · Kishan Vaghela]

While Harry Kane was leading England to a World Cup semi-final, there were 12 boys trapped in a cave in Thailand. 

Their bravery and courage has been honoured tonight, with seven of the boys in attendance here in Birmingham. 

[16 December 2018 19:19 · Kishan Vaghela]

How close will he get?

[16 December 2018 19:24 · Kishan Vaghela]

So what do you make of the contenders then?

Are you shocked to see James Anderson in there rather than favourite Alistair Cook?

Were the likes of Jonathan Rea and Tyson Fury unlucky to miss out?

Who do you think is the most deserving? 

[16 December 2018 19:25 · Kishan Vaghela]

Some pretty impressive numbers here for Hamilton. 

[16 December 2018 19:32 · Kishan Vaghela]

The six names on the shortlist do have members other than there family to thank tonight. 

Tonight's SPOTY nominees were put together by a mix of journalists, former athletes and BBC executives:

• Sir Chris Hoy (former Olympian & Spoty winner)
• Barry McGuigan (Former boxer & Spoty winner)
• Amy Williams (former Olympian & Spoty nominee)
• Caroline Barker (Broadcaster)
• Alex Scott (former footballer & broadcaster)
• Emma Boggis (chief executive, Sport & Recreation Alliance)
• Claire Tolley (sport features editor, Guardian)
• David Gurney (sports editor, Metro Newspapers)
• Howard Wheatcroft (group head of sport, Express Newspapers)
• Barbara Slater (Director, BBC Sport)
• Philip Bernie (Head of TV Sport, BBC Sport)
• Carl Doran (Executive Editor, BBC Sport)

[16 December 2018 19:34 · Kishan Vaghela]

Billy Monger now comes on to the stage, and is presented with the Helen Rollason award by hero Lewis Hamilton. 

Monger was a rising star in motor racing until he was involved in a serious accident at Donington Park in April 2017, aged just 17.

Billy lost both his legs in the accident but in March 2018, he was allowed to race in the Formula 3 championship.