Could Chris Froome win the Giro d’Italia in the same year as the Tour de France and Vuelta a España?
Bernard Hinault says that Chris Froome should attempt to win all three Grand Tours in a single season
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Could Chris Froome win the Giro d'Italia in the same year as the Tour de France and Vuelta a España? French champion Bernard Hinault says that he needs to try.
Froome just completed the Tour/Vuelta double with his overall win on Sunday evening in Madrid coming a month and a half after winning the Tour in Paris. He was the first cyclist to complete the double since the Vuelta was moved to its new late summer date in 1995.
"He should try that [the Giro]," Hinault told the Guardian. "He has proved that you can win the Tour and the Vuelta in the same year, so why not the Giro?"
Froome raced the Tour de France every year since 2012 and won four titles. After placing second on three occasions in Spain, he took the Vuelta trophy home on Sunday. The Giro has never been his target.
>>> Analysis: Can Chris Froome follow Vuelta victory with the World Championship time trial title?
Froome last raced the Giro d'Italia in 2010. Instead, he has been focusing on July and Sky sent others to the Giro. This May, Mikel Landa and Geraint Thomas tried to win the Giro title.
"What he has managed in Spain is a great thing because the general view was that it was not possible to win either the Giro and Tour or the Tour and Vuelta in the modern era," Hinault said.
"He wasn't as dominant as usual in the Tour, but he's really rediscovered his true capacity at the Vuelta, in spite of having one or two difficult days."
Hinault forms a small group of seven cyclists who have won the Giro and Tour in the same season. No cyclist has ever won all three Grand Tours in the same calendar year.
Froome told BBC Radio 4, "I would not say it's impossible. Nothing is impossible, but it will be difficult."
Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) remains the only active cyclist with wins in all three Grand Tours. Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) won all three multiple times and after a stage win on Angliru and fifth overall in the Vuelta this year, he retired.
Only six cyclists have ever won all three Grand Tours: Eddy Merckx remains the king of cycling with 11 Grand Tour titles. He only raced the Vuelta once, and when he did in 1973, he won it. He won the Giro and the Tour five times each.
"A completely different era," Froome said. "Eddy Merckx's time of racing, he was able to win every single kind of race on the calendar. The sport has transformed since his time."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
'We can't get enough high-end road and gravel bikes,' says Sigma Sports founder
Market demand remains strong for premium bikes and e-bikes, according to retailer
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Five dark horses for the men's Tour of Flanders 2023
Outside bets who could spring a surprise in 'De Ronde'
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'Rough day' for Chris Froome after crash and punctures kill best chance of victory since 2018
The 37-year-old was up the road in a solo move for over 50km at the Tour du Rwanda on Thursday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome labels WorldTour relegation a ‘death sentence for many teams’
Four-time Tour de France winner says UCI points system needs overhaul as Israel-PremierTech face relegation from the WorldTour
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Chris Froome still holds out hope for fifth Tour de France win
Israel-Premier Tech rider says the dream is "always there"
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Chris Froome out of Tour de France after positive Covid-19 test result
Four-time winner and third on Alpe d’Huez stage forced to abandon on stage 18
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I’m going to keep pushing. I don’t know what my limits are': Chris Froome climbs to best result since 2018
Israel-Premier Tech rider finished third on stage 12 of the Tour de France to Alpe d'Huez
By Adam Becket • Published
-
La Planche des Belles Filles: will today's Tour de France climb be make or break?
Primož Roglič may be looking to salvage his Tour de France by exorcising his 2020 demons on the brutal climb
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
'I'm trying to get back to my old self again' — Chris Froome achieves his best result since 2019 horror crash
Chris Froome finished 11th at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on Tuesday, his best result for almost three years
By Adam Becket • Published