Tinkoff-Saxo Owner Offers Top Cyclists €1M To Compete In All Three Grand Tours

Cycling team Tinkoff-Saxo Owner Oleg Tinkov has offered a €1M ($1.27M) prize to cyclists Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana if they "compete in all three Grand Tours next season," according to Ed Aarons of the London GUARDIAN. Tinkov, who bought the team in '13 for €6M, said that the money can "either be divided among the foursome or handed over to the best-placed rider in next year's Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España." Tinkov: "It comes from my desire to see all the great champions in the three biggest races of the year." Garmin-Sharp Manager Jonathan Vaughters agreed with Tinkov's idea. He tweeted, "In every successful sport, the best athletes compete against each other, all year, in the biggest events. So, yes, I agree." The last rider to win both the Tour and Giro in the same season was Marco Pantani in '98. No one has "ever claimed victory in all three Grand Tours" (GUARDIAN, 10/8).