When Alberto Contador crossed the line in Madrid on Sunday to confirm victory in the Vuelta a Espana, he became only the fifth rider of all time to win the three grand tours in his career.
The 25-year-old Spaniard clinched the triple in double quick time. Just 14 months have elapsed since he won the 2007 Tour de France. This season he has added the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana to become the rider to complete the full set of grand tours in the quickest time.
Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault are the only four riders to achieve the feat. It took the greatest cyclist of all time, Merckx, four years and 11 months to complete the full set.
Bernard Hinault won the Vuelta and Tour in 1978 and added his first Giro in 1980 to do the triple in a speedy two years and one month.
But the fact that Contador's team was barred from the Tour this year meant Contador was able to capitalise by concentrating on the Giro and the Vuelta. He joins the ranks of the greats after completing victory in the three grand tours in an incredible period spanning just one year and two months.
THE GRAND SLAM CLUB
Only five riders have won all three of the major tours – the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana – in their careers.
JACQUES ANQUETIL
First Tour de France July 1957
First Giro d'Italia June 1960
First Vuelta a Espana May 1963
Time taken to complete the set – 5 years, 10 months
Age when completing the set – 29 years 4 months
Total grand tour tally: 5 TdF, 2 Giro, 1 Vuelta
FELICE GIMONDI
First Tour de France July 1965
First Giro d'Italia June 1967
First Vuelta a Espana May 1968
Time taken to complete the set – 2 years 10 months
Age when completing the set – 25 years 8 months
Total grand tour tally: 1 TdF, 3 Giro, 1 Vuelta
EDDY MERCKX
First Giro d'Italia June 1968
First Tour de France July 1969
First Vuelta a Espana May 1973
Time taken to complete the set – 4 years 11 months
Age when completing the set – 27 years 11 months
Total grand tour tally: 5 TdF, 5 Giro, 1 Vuelta
BERNARD HINAULT
First Vuelta a Espana May 1978
First Tour de France July 1978
First Giro d'Italia June 1980
Time taken to complete the set – 2 years 1 month
Age when completing the set – 25 years 7 months
Total grand tour tally: 5 TdF, 3 Giro, 2 Vuelta
ALBERTO CONTADOR
First Tour de France July 2007
First Giro d'Italia June 2008
First Vuelta a Espana September 2008
Time taken to complete the set – 1 year 2 months
Age when completing the set – 25 years 9 months
Total grand tour tally: 1 TdF, 1 Giro, 1 Vuelta
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