What more does Victoria Pendleton have to do to make the shortlist? Triple World Champion last year but edged out by Michael Owen and Jonny Wilkinson (winners of nothing). This year, she is double World Champion and Olympic Champion (admittedly it's a much stronger final list). Put that startling achievement with intelligence, a charming personality and unthreatening good looks and you'd think it would be the winning combination?
Of the cyclists in the final 10 either Chris Hoy or Nicole Cooke would be very worthy winners but, as above, I hope the cycling vote doesn't end up being split. Not sure how to choose between the two as both are engaging and modest personalities, so Chris Hoy as the first Brit to win three Gold medals and to do it across a range of disciplines with such dominant style? Or Nicole Cooke with her fantastic and unprecedented double?