The Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France represent cycling's most prestigious double, with only a handful of riders winning both in the same season.
In professional road cycling, they are known as the Grand Tours: the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España. The French race is the oldest, first held in 1903, followed by the Italian race in 1909, and finally the Spanish tour, which began in 1935.
These three events share a common structure and immense prestige. Each span three weeks, featuring 21 stages that include one or more time trials.
While all are part of the UCI World Tour, they are - more importantly - the very fabric of cycling legend. Winning a Grand Tour, particularly the Giro or the Tour, is the ultimate ambition for any professional cyclist.
Few riders have managed to win even one, and an even smaller - more elite group - have won two in the same year, in particular the Giro-Tour double.
The Champions of the "Double"
Every victory is special, but winning two Grand Tours in a single season is reserved for the true legends of the sport.
Among the possible combinations, the Giro-Tour double is undoubtedly the most revered, partly due to the historical significance of these races and their consistent placement in the cycling calendar.
The Two Doubles of "Il Campionissimo" Fausto Coppi
In over a century of cycling history, only eight riders have achieved the "Double."
The first to do so was Italy's "Il Campionissimo," Fausto Coppi, first accomplishing the feat in 1949 and repeating his triumph three years later in 1952.
The Success of Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Roche
In 1964, Frenchman Jacques Anquetil added his name to the list.
This was followed by the era of Eddy Merckx, the Belgian "Cannibal," who dominated the sport with doubles in 1970, 1972, and 1974.
France returned to the forefront years later with Bernard Hinault, who secured the double in both 1982 and 1985, before Ireland's Stephen Roche etched his name in history with his own Giro-Tour victory in 1987.
The 90s: Indurain's Dominance and Pantani's Magic
The 1990s began under Spanish rule, led by the formidable Miguel "Big Mig" Indurain, who won both major stage races in 1992 and 1993.
The spotlight then returned to Italy with Marco Pantani "Il Pirata" (The Pirate), who captured both the Giro and the Tour in his magnificent and unforgettable 1998 season.
Cycling's Modern Hero: Pogačar's 2024 Double
Twenty-six years after Pantani, Tadej Pogačar rewrote the history books.
In 2024, the Slovenian sensation conquered the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France within weeks of each other, with his phenomenal performances further cementing his place in the hall of cycling greats.
The Triple Crown: Giro, Tour, and Vuelta
Beyond the double, seven riders have achieved the "Triple Crown" by winning the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta at some point in their careers.
This elite group includes Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome.
Contador holds the record for the fastest completion, winning all three Grand Tours within just 14 months and only five years into his professional career.
The Ultimate Treble: Giro, Tour, and World Championship
An even more exclusive circle exists for those who have won the Giro, Tour, and the World Championship in the same year.
In 2024, this club welcomed Tadej Pogačar, as the Slovenian cyclist proved he belongs among the all-time greats by completing this historic treble in a single season.
Tadej Pogačar has etched his name into cycling legend, becoming only the third rider in history to win the sport's three most prestigious titles in a single season.
His remarkable achievement comes 37 years after the last cyclist to accomplish the feat, Ireland's Stephen Roche, who completed a formidable 1987 season by winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship in what was the best year of his career.
To find the first rider to secure this "Triple Crown," we must go back to 1974 and to the most successful cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx.
The Belgian superstar was coming off an excellent season, having won both the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia, though his historic 1974 campaign did not start perfectly, as he missed several of the Spring Classics.
Despite a few injuries and some subpar performances early on, nothing could derail the Belgian's sensational year.
He first triumphed in Italy, then conquered France and, finally, claimed the rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Montreal.
