When it comes to forecasting a rider’s chances of scoring a Giro-Tour double, there’s no better pundit than Eddy Merckx to do so.
Indeed, while others may doubt Alberto Contador’s chances of winning a double, the Spanish rider has the "Cannibal’s" endorsement to do so.
"For me, going to the Giro is the best possible preparation for the Tour. It is not as fast as the French race, only mountainous. And I know from experience. I did much better in the Tour if I had ridden the Giro beforehand," Merckx told Spanish newspaper MARCA.
"I think the others, Froome, Nibali and Quintana should too."
Merckx dismissed the notion that Contador would be too fatigued after the Giro to attempt a victory at the Tour.
"Tired? Come on," Merckx said: There is no reason he should get tired. You know all the time that you have between the two races? Seriously, tired at all. You can even go to the Tour of Switzerland. Anyway, he will have more than enough time to recover. That this is cycling, not soccer!"
The last rider to win a Giro-Tour double was Marco Pantani in 1998.
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