GRAND SLAM

Notwithstanding his anti-doping travails and the possible disquali ication from the 2017 Vuelta, Chris Froome is aiming to add his name to an exclusive club of six riders who have won all three grand tours across their careers.

JACQUES ANQUETIL

The first rider to win all three grand tours, though it should be pointed out that the Vuelta a España was a far less prestigious race when Anquetil was at his peak in the early 1960s. Anquetil was the first rider to win five Tours, which he did between 1957 and 1964. Giro wins came in 1960 and 1964, while his sole Vuelta triumph came in 1963. Anquetil based his GC challenge on utter dominance in the long time trials where he carved minutes out of his rivals, then defence in the

EDDY MERCKX

The most successful rider in the history of cycling won five Tours, five Giri and a Vuelta, usually at the rate of two a year. Merckx climbed faster than the best climbers, and time trialled very strongly, which explains his dominance in the GTs.

ALBERTO CONTADOR

The first rider to achieve a career grand slam with the Vuelta having moved to its current late summer slot. Contador had won all three grand tours by the age of 25 and he shares with Hinault the distinction of having one each at least twice. If he hadn’t been stripped of the 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro for testing positive at the former, he’d have won nine – three of each.

FELICE GIMONDI

The Italian was at his best in his home tour, which he won three times between 1967 and 1976. A glittering career was expected when he won the Tour de France in 1965 at the age of 22, but he had the misfortune of coming up against Eddy Merckx in his best years, and he never added to his tally of yellow jerseys. His Vuelta win came in 1968.

BERNARD HINAULT

Hinault won five Tours between 1978 and 1985 and while his career total of grand tours was lower than Merckx (10, to the Belgian’s 11), he was the first rider to win each one at least twice. He took two Vuelta wins and three Giro wins. Hinault’s time trialling prowess and aggressiveness compensated for occasional vulnerability in the high mountains.

VINCENZO NIBALI

Following his 2010 Vuelta win and 2013 Giro win, it was assumed that Nibali lacked the final extra quality to win the Tour. But he was head and shoulders above his rivals in the 2014 edition of the French race and while Froome and Contador crashed out, Nibali dominated. He also won the Giro in 2016 and may yet be awarded another Vuelta win – he was second to Froome last year.