Froome completes historic grand tour double
CHRIS Froome has backed up his fourth Tour De France win with success in the Vuelta a Espana.
The Briton became the third rider to do the double of both tour victories in the same year and the first to do so since the Vuelta was moved from April to late August in 1995.
Frenchman Jacques Anquetil also did the double in 1963 with countryman Bernard Hinault the last to win both tours in the same year in 1978.
The 32-year-old was confirmed as the winner when the Vuelta finished on Madrid's Paseo della Castellana, with a bunch sprint won by Matteo Trentin of Quick-Step.
He finished 2mins 15sec ahead of Vincenzo Nibali and he also won the green points jersey and the "all-rounders" white jersey.
"I think it probably is my greatest achievement, being the first person to win the Tour de France and then go on to win the Vuelta," Froome said of his first Vuelta success.
"I have to say that is probably the toughest Grand Tour I've ever ridden. There was something different happening every day. I've had good days and then I've been lying on the ground, bleeding, thinking my race might be over.
"It's been a rollercoaster - absolutely relentless."
