Chris Froome yesterday officially received the 2011 Vuelta a España winner’s jersey, boosting his total of Grand Tour victories from six to seven.
The Team Ineos rider was awarded the title following the disqualification of the original winner, Spain’s Juan Jose Cobo, who was found guilty of violating anti-doping rules.
The UCI announced the doping decision in June and Cobo chose not to appeal against the ruling last month. This decision also saw him banned for three years.
Originally placed second in 2011, the victory sees the 34-year-old Froome now also become Britain’s first Grand Tour winner.
That accolade was previously held by Bradley Wiggins, who won the 2012 Tour de France.
In a tweet yesterday, Froome said even though he was receiving the jersey so long after the event it was something he would treasure for the rest of his life.
“Even though it is being handed to me in hindsight, this will be something I treasure for the rest of my life.”
Ahead of the 2019 edition, @ChrisFroome has officially accepted his red jersey from the 2011 @lavuelta ❤ pic.twitter.com/J9Uh9Lsr07
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) August 22, 2019
Froome is currently still recovering from a crash he suffered at the Criterium du Dauphine in June in which he fractured his hip, femur, elbow and neck, as well as sustaining internal injuries.
