This weekend the Norman island of Le Mont-Saint-Michel hosts the Grand Départ of the 103rd Tour De France. Defending British champion Chris Froome hopes to become the eighth cyclist to win the general classification (GC) prize for a third time (excluding Lance Armstrong whose seven wins have been nullified after he admitted to doping).
There is a passing-the-torch flavour to the list of repeat winners. Bernard Hinault won five times in eight years between 1978 and 1985. He almost did it again in 1986, nearly pipping teammate Greg LeMond to the post. American LeMond, the first cyclist from an English-speaking country to win the GC, eventually triumphed, and would do so again in 1989 and 1990. His run was ended in 1991 by the imperious Spaniard Miguel Indurain, who would go on to complete his own five-year winning streak.
Froome is the bookies’ choice and has already said he prefers the course to the route he won on last year. However, he is not the only man vying for a third GC trophy with Spanish veteran Alberto Contador also in the running to build on his 2007 and 2009 wins.
