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

The Giro-Tour double, winning both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in a single season, remains one of cycling’s most prestigious and challenging feats. Historically, only eight male riders have managed to secure this double, beginning with the legendary Fausto Coppi in 1949 and most recently achieved by Tadej Pogačar in 2024. The rarity of this accomplishment highlights the immense physical and mental demands of maintaining peak form across two Grand Tours held just a month apart. Pogačar’s recent success has reignited interest in the double, with Jonas Vingegaard set to attempt the feat in 2026. Fausto Coppi’s pioneering achievement set the standard for greatness in the sport, with his 1949 victory marking the first time a rider won both Grand Tours in one year. Other cycling icons such as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain have also joined this elite group, underscoring the calibre of riders capable of such dominance. The difficulty of the double is compounded by the short recovery window between the Giro and the Tour, demanding exceptional endurance and consistency. Even modern greats like Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, despite multiple Grand Tour wins, were unable to complete the Giro-Tour double, illustrating its enduring challenge. On the women’s side, Annemiek van Vleuten became the first to achieve the Giro-Tour double in 2022, a landmark moment made possible by the recent revival of the Tour de France Femmes. Previously, scheduling conflicts and the absence of a women’s Tour limited opportunities for such a double. The move of the women’s Giro d’Italia to an earlier date in the calendar now allows a more feasible gap between the two races, encouraging top riders to target both events. This change has already sparked ambitions among riders like Demi Vollering, who has expressed her intention to complete the double by 2026, signalling a new era for women’s stage racing. Van Vleuten’s 2022 double was particularly impressive given the tight turnaround between the Giro and the Tour Femmes, as well as her consistent high-level performances throughout the season. Her success not only broke new ground but also highlighted the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s cycling. With the calendar adjustments, the potential for more female riders to replicate or surpass this achievement is increasing, potentially expanding the list of Giro-Tour double winners in the near future. This evolution reflects broader progress in women’s cycling, with more opportunities for riders to showcase their talents across multiple Grand Tours. Looking ahead, the Giro-Tour double remains a benchmark of cycling excellence, symbolising a rider’s ability to dominate the sport’s most demanding races within a single season. For men, the legacy of Coppi and Pogačar continues to inspire, while the recent developments in women’s racing promise to elevate the status of the double in the female peloton. As riders like Vingega