Chris Froome of Britain has officially been awarded the 2011 Vuelta a España title following the disqualification of the original winner, it was announced by the UCI today.
The Ineos rider originally placed second to Spain’s Juan José Cobo. However, Cobo had a doping case against him.
The world governing body said that no statement of appeal had been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision of the UCI anti-doping tribunal concerning the cyclist.
As the deadline for the appeal had expired, the three-year suspension against Cobo had been confirmed.
The title awarded to Froome after Cobo’s disqualification makes him his country’s first Grand Tour winner.
Froome, who is also a four-time Tour de France, one-time Giro d’Italia and now two-time Vuelta champ, wrote on Twitter that it was “better late than never” and that the 2011 race held special memories for him.
The news was especially welcome as the 34-year-old is not competing in the Tour de France currently under way as he is recovering from a crash he suffered at the Criterium du Dauphine last month.
Better late than never! The 2011 @lavuelta holds some very special memories for me ❤️🇪🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/j0zk3LGsGD
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 18, 2019
Team INEOS have acknowledged the UCI’s statement today confirming the reclassification of Chris Froome as the winner of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana.
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) July 18, 2019
