Bernard Hinault’s Grand Tour record was nothing short of phenomenal. On three occasions, he doubled a Tour de France win with either a Vuelta or Giro victory, and injury robbed him of a fourth double in 1983. He’d already won the Vuelta, but overreached himself in doing so, strained his knee, and he missed out on a Tour he’d undoubtedly
The greatest cyclist who ever lived did the double more times than anyone else. In 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1974 he won two major tours.
In 1970 Merckx had unfinished business with the Giro. He had been expelled from the previous year’s race while wearing the pink jersey after testing positive. He denied taking drugs and vowed to come back.
He beat
Jacques Anquetil was the first rider to win a career grand slam of Grand Tours. Having already won the Tour three times and the Giro once, the 1963 Vuelta completed the set.
Many of his victories were forged in the time trial stages, where he was virtually unbeatable.
Although he already had a string of Tour victories to his name, it wasn’t
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