BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008
Chris Hoy

At last another cyclist has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, 43 years after Tom Simpson, and a better ambassador than Chris Hoy for cycling would be difficult to find. Congratulations to Chris on capping an amazing year, and on just being Chris Hoy.

We are coming to the end of what has been a fascinating year for me. It's been a rush of travel, meeting people, taking pictures and writing stories. Looking back there have been obvious highlights, like the British cyclists in Beijing, Mark Cavendish in the Tour de France and Nicole Cooke's amazing Olympic and world road double, but I have also really enjoyed meeting the riders on Cycling Weekly ride features who take part in the British, Premier Calendar races and have made that series and British domestic racing so vibrant in 2008.

Next year will see cycling move further into the fabric of our way of life in Britain, and the people who deserve thanks for pushing that aren't just the sport's stars but the thousands who work unseen on projects like Go Ride and Everyday Cycling, initiatives that are taking cycling to schools and helping to build a big nationwide cycling community.

Anyway, I'm sounding like an old hippy now, so best wishes to everyone for Christmas 2008, and keep riding in 2009.