From Fausto Coppi to Tadej Pogačar: here are the eight male riders and one female who have won the Giro Tour double

Tadej Pogačar has officially joined an elite pantheon in professional cycling, becoming the eighth male rider to achieve the coveted Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double in the same season. This monumental feat, confirmed with his recent Tour de France victory, places him alongside legends such as Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, and Miguel Indurain. The Slovenian’s dominant performances across both Grand Tours mark a historic achievement, solidifying his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

This accomplishment is particularly significant given the modern specialisation in Grand Tour racing, where riders typically target one major tour per season. The physical and mental demands of competing at the highest level in two three-week races, separated by mere weeks, are immense. Pogačar’s success not only defies contemporary trends but also evokes an era when champions routinely contested multiple Grand Tours, demonstrating a rare blend of resilience, tactical acumen, and sheer physical superiority that has been largely absent from the peloton for decades.

Pogačar’s double isn't just a win; it's a statement. The peloton now knows that the old rules, or at least the recent ones, no longer apply when a talent of this magnitude decides to rewrite them.