Everyone prefers Tennis to Cycling. Tennis is a game that can be enjoyed by spectators. Cycling is a method of transport. If Murray was English he'd have gotten 50% of the vote. No one cares about cycling but they do care about being on the "Someone from Engerlund has done something good" bandwagon.
I also think the voting was dodgy. Took me about 10 attempts to finally get anything other than an engaged tone.