Historic Treble

[Armchair Cyclist]

May not be on the same level as the Ardennes or Cobbled trebles (as achieved by Gilbert last year and Boonen this), but Wiggins is on the verge of a treble that is almost as noteworthy, and about as rare.

If we consider all the major week long races (Paris-Nice, Tirreno Adriatico, Tour of Catalonia, Basque tour, Romandie, Dauphiné and Suisse), then doubles are not uncommon; going back to 1980, I find Evans (2011), Valverde (2009), Karpets (2007), Vino (2003), Frigo (2001), Kloden (2000), Jalabert (95 & 99), Casagrande (96), Rominger (91 and 94), Richard (94), Kelly (83), Anderson (85), and Saronni (82).

But only Sean Kelly, apart from his 1983 double, has a treble comparable to the one Wiggins is about to get, having won Paris-Nice, Cataunya and Basque in both 84 and 86.

I haven't researched possible trebles earlier than 1980, but I suspect that a case could be made for PN/Romandie/Dauphiné today outstripping 1980s versions of PN/Catalunya/Basque.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

You're going to get some hate for suggesting there is any merit in it.


Or rather, you were, until I drew it unto myself by suggesting anyone round here might be a little sensitive about him.

 

[El Pistolero]

Prestige of races have constantly changed throughout the years. Just because a race is prestigious now doesn't mean it was prestigious back then and vice versa. Something you have totally neglected in your "research". We call it anachronisms.

 

[sartoris]

Great. Now he only has to win a Tour, a Vuelta and a Giro to get the next treble. Maybe next year??

 

[Gloin22]

Prestige of races have constantly changed throughout the years. Just because a race is prestigious now doesn't mean it was prestigious back then and vice versa. Something you have totally neglected in your "research". We call it anachronisms.

You're saying PN and Dauphine aren't prestigious ?

Imo they are two biggest one week stage races when going with prestige.

 

[El Pistolero]

You really can't get a point without someone spelling it out for you huh?

There are a lot of cyclists who have won 3 prestigious one week races in one season. None of them are mentioned by the OP because he fails to take into account some races that were prestigious back then aren't anymore. The Vierdaagse van Duinkerke for example. Or the Giro di Sardegna.

And we're speaking about the treble here, Romandie is a pretty meaningless race and Dauphiné is an obvious warm up for the Tour. Also, often "trebles" are closely related to each other like the 3 Ardennes classics or the 3 cobbled classics. This is just taking 3 WT stage races spread across the season and lump them together because the winner has been the same for all races. I can also pick out 3 random races and call it a historical treble if someone manages to win them all in one season.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

You really can't get a point without someone spelling it out for you huh?

There are a lot of cyclists who have won 3 prestigious one week races in one season.

Since 1986? Interesting. Who? It is a rare achievement, and therefore worthy of some note.

 

[burning]

Well contador won Pais Vasco, Giro and Vuelta in one season, it's better than winning 3 one week races I guess

By the way this thread is totally pointless

 

[Panda Claws]

Since 1986? Interesting. Who? It is a rare achievement, and therefore worthy of some note.

Tony Martin 2011: Algarve, PN and the great Tour of Beijing.

Problem?

 

[burning]

Tony Martin 2011: Algarve, PN and the great Tour of Beijing.

Problem?

You just won the thread

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Levi won Tour of Utah and the US Pro Cycling Challenge back to back.

How awesome is that. Nobody ever did it before.

 

[goggalor]

Dauphiné doesn't count as a race.

 

[will10]

Romandie is a nothing race, and Pisti is bang on. Paris Nice, Dauphine and Tour would be a great treble to win, though.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, that would indeed be a good treble.

 

[The Hitch]

It would be a good quadruple. All the WT French speaking stage races.

 

[El Pistolero]

It would be a good quadruple. All the WT French speaking stage races.

Let's not ignore the Tour de Pologne shall we.

 

[hrotha]

The most important thing here is that this is not a treble, this is three unconnected races.

Kudos to Wigans and UK Postal if he wins all three, of course. But these races aren't a bundle. This treble isn't a thing.

 

[barn yard]

simon gerrans won the big treble

australian national champion, tour down under, milan san remo

this has never been done before so therefore we can conclude that simon gerrans will win the tour this year

 

[Ferminal]

Romandie is a nothing race, and Pisti is bang on. Paris Nice, Dauphine and Tour would be a great treble to win, though.

Spot on.

..

 

[badboyberty]

simon gerrans won the big treble

australian national champion, tour down under, milan san remo

this has never been done before so therefore we can conclude that simon gerrans will win the tour this year

Ah the all important "no one else has found any form yet" treble. Somehow I feel this will only be achieved by Australians...

 

[spalco]

I don't know how historic an achievement it would be, but it would certainly already make a season very successful for all but a handful of cyclists in the world.