the triple crown of cycling

Has anyone ever won the Giro, Tour de France, and Vuelta all in the same year?

No, all combinations of the doubles have been done but never the triple.

Also, the triple crown is generally considered to be the Tour, the Giro and the World Championship (in the one year). Only done in '74 by Eddie Merckx and in '87 by Stephen Roche. Indurain came close, getting the first two and then second in the worlds in '93; Hinault also nearly did it.

Also the veulta and the giro before 95 where both held in the spring. with the veulta finishing a week or two before the start of the Giro. Only in recent years with the movement of the veulta to the fall and the increased depth of spanish cycling has it gained in prominence.
The veulta IMHO has become a more interesting race than the Giro. It has been innovative- shorter more exciting stages with the mountain stages and time trials scattered throughout. Placing it later in the season has also made it a "redemption". People who have less than ideal results due to injuries, poor form earlier in the season come to the veulta as a last shot. Also, up and coming stars get a shot. This year will have Mayo, Heras, possibly Vino trying to make up for injuries/poor results. Up and comming americans Danielson and Landis...Spainards- VAlverde, Perrochaman...

For the USA people don't forget to sign the petition to try and convince OLN to broadcast the veulta as they have done the last 3 years

http://www.petitiononline.com/vuelta3/petition.html

http://www.olntv.com/olnbb/viewtopic...5eb3e275beef0f

Hmmm. As long as riders continue to focus on the Tour de France and place the other Tours at best 2nd to this one, I suspect that record--the first to win all 3 Grand Tours--will take a long time to be made. Maybe it never will.