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| Oleg Tinkov offers €1m to winner of 2015 Grand Tour showdown | Oleg Tinkov offers €1m to winner of 2015 Grand Tour showdown |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The owner of one of professional cycling’s biggest teams has offered a €1m prize to Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana if they compete in all three Grand Tours next season. | The owner of one of professional cycling’s biggest teams has offered a €1m prize to Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana if they compete in all three Grand Tours next season. |
| Oleg Tinkov, a Russian businessman who bought Team Tinkoff-Saxo in 2013 for €6m, told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that the money can either be divided among the foursome or handed over to the best-placed rider in next year’s Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España. | |
| “It comes from my desire to see all the great champions in the three biggest races of the year,” Tinkov said. | “It comes from my desire to see all the great champions in the three biggest races of the year,” Tinkov said. |
| “We spoke about it in August and then at the Vuelta a España we were able to take our idea to David Brailsford of Sky, Alexandre Vinokourov of Astana, for Froome and Nibali. Now, we need to talk to Movistar for Quintana.” | “We spoke about it in August and then at the Vuelta a España we were able to take our idea to David Brailsford of Sky, Alexandre Vinokourov of Astana, for Froome and Nibali. Now, we need to talk to Movistar for Quintana.” |
| Tinkoff-Saxo team leader Contador has yet to confirm whether he will return to defend his 2014 Vuelta a España title but has already indicated he will attempt a Giro and Tour double. However 2014 Giro winner Quintana is unlikely to defend his title and intends to ride in the Tour de France instead after skipping this year’s race. | |
| Froome and 2014 winner Nibali have yet to announce their plans for next year but both are expected to focus on the Tour. | Froome and 2014 winner Nibali have yet to announce their plans for next year but both are expected to focus on the Tour. |
| “It’s interesting that he’s decided to do the Giro d’Italia,” Froome said of Contador at last month’s World Championship. | “It’s interesting that he’s decided to do the Giro d’Italia,” Froome said of Contador at last month’s World Championship. |
| “I know how hard it is to do two Grand Tours back to back.” | “I know how hard it is to do two Grand Tours back to back.” |
| However Tinkov is hopeful that he can convince the 2013 Tour de France champion to sign up for his ambitious plan. | However Tinkov is hopeful that he can convince the 2013 Tour de France champion to sign up for his ambitious plan. |
| “Contador will also race the Vuelta if Nibali, Froome and Quintana accept this challenge,” he said. | “Contador will also race the Vuelta if Nibali, Froome and Quintana accept this challenge,” he said. |
| “Everyone has to make a push to make this happen. I spoke to Froome personally and he was very interested. It would be the biggest sporting initiative of 2015. | “Everyone has to make a push to make this happen. I spoke to Froome personally and he was very interested. It would be the biggest sporting initiative of 2015. |
| “Is it possible? After I saw the route of next year’s Giro d’Italia, I’m more convinced it is. | “Is it possible? After I saw the route of next year’s Giro d’Italia, I’m more convinced it is. |
| “The course is hard and impressive, but not cruel. There are very few transfers, short stages and a mild final week.” | “The course is hard and impressive, but not cruel. There are very few transfers, short stages and a mild final week.” |
| Jonathan Vaughters, manager of Garmin-Sharp, agreed with Tinkov’s idea. “In every successful sport, the best athletes compete against each other, all year, in the biggest (same) events,” the American wrote in Twitter. “So, yes, I agree.” | Jonathan Vaughters, manager of Garmin-Sharp, agreed with Tinkov’s idea. “In every successful sport, the best athletes compete against each other, all year, in the biggest (same) events,” the American wrote in Twitter. “So, yes, I agree.” |
| The last rider to win both the Tour and Giro in the same season was Marco Pantani in 1998. No one has ever claimed victory in all three Grand Tours. | The last rider to win both the Tour and Giro in the same season was Marco Pantani in 1998. No one has ever claimed victory in all three Grand Tours. |