Cycling: Chris Froome to race in 2018 Giro d'Italia

British Team Sky rider Chris Froome has finally announced the decision that the whole world of cycling was eagerly awaiting: he will take part in the 2018 Giro d'Italia, the only Grand Tour that he has not yet won. He will attempt to win his third consecutive Grand Tour after taking both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana in 2017. Froome has raced in the Giro before, but he skipped this race every year since 2010. His best result in the Tour of Italy was in 2009, when he finished 36th overall. Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault are the only riders to have held all three Grand Tour titles at the same time and Chris Froome said that achieving this feat gives him fresh motivation. "It's really exciting to be able to take on a new challenge, to do something that perhaps people wouldn't expect and to mix it up," said Froome. "It's a whole new motivation for me to see if I can pull off something special next year." Only six riders have won all three Grand Tours in their career: Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali. Most likely Froome will also attempt to win both Giro and Tour in the same calendar year, something that nobody has done since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford said: "Some of cycling's greatest stories have been played out at the Giro d'Italia and next year gives us the chance to write a chapter of our own. Some of the very best riders have attempted to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same season but very few have been successful, so it's a challenge we have enormous respect for. We're really excited about 2018. This is a new motivation for the whole team and something that all those who follow our sport can be excited about too." Chris Froome is 7/4 at Bet365 to win the Tour de France again in 2018.