Great Britain cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Sarah Storey were both honoured at the Sports Journalists’ Association British Sports Awards on Thursday at the Tower of London.

Wiggins was awarded the Sportsman of the Year award, following on from fellow British Cycling member Mark Cavendish who claimed the accolade in 2011. Storey took the Paralympic Sport Women of the Year honour with the winners voted for by SJA members.

Team Sky rider Wiggins, 32, became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France on the back of victories in the Tour de Romandie, Criterium de Dauphine and Paris-Nice in 2012. He then won his fourth Olympic gold medal in London in the road time-trial.

Storey, a multiple world champion on the road and track, was in inspired form at the London Paralympics. Four gold medals from the road race, road time trial, individual pursuit and 500m time-trial gave the 35-year-old a 100% record in the capital and helped her join Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as Britain's most successful female Paralympian.

Barry Newcombe, the chairman of the SJA committee which organises the awards, said: “It’s been probably the greatest year in the history of British sport, and certainly one of the busiest for our members.”

“This year’s awards were twice the size of the event when I became chairman, and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the National Lottery, who we were delighted were able to come along and share in the celebrations with so many of the great competitors who they have helped fund through their sporting careers.”