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Oleg Tinkov offers €1m to winner of 2015 Grand Tour showdown World’s top cyclists offered €1m to compete in all three Grand Tours
(about 2 hours 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. Oleg Tinkov, a Russian businessman who bought Team Tinkoff-Saxo in 2013 for €6m, told the 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.” The Tinkoff-Saxo team leader Contador has yet to confirm whether he will return to defend his 2014 Vuelta a España title but he has already indicated he will attempt a Giro and Tour double. However the 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.
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 the 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. “I know how hard it is to do two Grand Tours back to back.”
“It’s interesting that he’s decided to do the Giro d’Italia,” Froome said of Contador at last month’s World Championship. However Tinkov is hopeful that he can convince Froome to sign up for his ambitious plan.
“I know how hard it is to do two Grand Tours back to back.” “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.
However Tinkov is hopeful that he can convince the 2013 Tour de France champion to sign up for his ambitious plan. “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.”
“Contador will also race the Vuelta if Nibali, Froome and Quintana accept this challenge,” he said. Jonathan Vaughters, the 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 events,” the American wrote in Twitter. “So, yes, I agree.”
“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.
“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.”
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.