Geraint Thomas, a Welsh cyclist who won the Tour de France earlier in 2018, has admitted he’s hoping for the backing of Arsenal fans to win BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

Thomas is an Arsenal fan, and he was in attendance at the Emirates Stadium for the opening game of the season, when he spoke to the crowd at half-time. Now, rumour has it he’s up for Sports Personality of the Year this Sunday.

Speaking in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph, Thomas wouldn’t confirm whether he really is on the list of nominees, since it’s all being kept quiet until the day of the award this year. However, he did say that if he is up for the award, he’s hoping for the backing of the Arsenal supporters.

“I’m a massive Arsenal fan, so I’m hoping for their support,” Thomas said. “I think having Wales’ support would be big, though. Obviously, if I’m the only cyclist, that could help as well – hopefully. Then, as I say, I’ll try to get Arsenal’s support up against Kane!”

Tour de France 2018 winner Great Britain's Geraint Thomas holds a Welsh flag as he celebrates his overall leader yellow jersey on the podium after the 21st and last stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Houilles and Paris Champs-Elysees, on July 29, 2018. (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP / Getty Images)
Tour de France 2018 winner Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas holds a Welsh flag as he celebrates his overall leader yellow jersey on the podium after the 21st and last stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Houilles and Paris Champs-Elysees, on July 29, 2018. (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP / Getty Images)

The event gets underway at 19:00 on Sunday, and voting will open as announced in the show on BBC One and on the BBC Sport Website. You can vote for free online, or alternatively, you can phone in on the number displayed during the show.

Thomas is certainly the more deserving winner, having actually won an international event, rather than just making semi-finals like Kane. Football’s popularity certainly means the odds are against the cyclist though. Perhaps Arsenal fans will be able to help him through.