Originally Posted by
kabex
Completely agreed.
Who knows when that rider will come. He might not come for another 5 years, in which case we've got the next Merckx on our hands. Riis has said one of his goals is to push Contador to the "impossible" triple grand tour victories in a single year.
That would shatter everything we know about achievements in cycling, of course though previously the Vuelta overlapped with the Giro, but I still doubt anyone could have done it.
Historically there were some other issues that made it more difficult or stupid to even try.
Pre Anquetil who cared? Perhaps even pre Merckx. Before then the Vuelta had little more prestige than many 1 week Tours. Before the Vuelta was moved the order was horrid for any rider even thinking of winning all 3. Vuelta first, then Giro and finally the TDF. If the endurance aspects took their toll then it was the TDF one failed to win. Now it would be the Vuelta. A lot less is risked. A rider can ride a somewhat conservative Giro (Something Merckx seems to have done in many of his Giro/Tour doubles). Have the TDF as the main goal and then try to cap with a Vuelta.
Final bit is team size. Go back to Merckx and even if the GC contender had the legs is likely his Super Domestique and other vital team members would not. Now this is not as true as in hte strong teams there is depth.
I still do not see anyone pulling it off, but even a failed attempt that looked good a ways into the Vuelta would be exciting.