Britain's Chris Froome has announced that he will race in the 2018 Giro d'Italia after his Tour de France & Vuelta a Espana double success last racing year.
The 32-year-old won his 4th Tour de France Grand Tour title back in July, and his first ever Vuelta a Espana title back in September, and is set to take on the hardest cycling challenge yet: the Giro d'Italia/Tour de France double. It has been described as almost impossible in the professional era, with increased specialisation and tougher doping controls.
Ivan Basso thought that he could complete such a feat after winning the Giro d'Italia back in 2010, but flopped to 31st overall in the Tour de France. Alberto Contador had looked unbeatable prior to attempting it in 2011, easing to victory at the Giro d'Italia, but managed to only finish fifth in the Tour de France.
"It's really exciting to be able to take on a new challenge, to do something that perhaps most people would expect", the Briton stated. "It's a whole new motivation for me to see if I can pull off something special next year."
I reckon he'll win both by a canter, especially considering how well suited Froome is to the Giro route and the strength of the Team Sky domestiques that he will have by his side!