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Only Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1963) and
Bernard Hinault (1973) have achieved that feat, but the Spanish
race was then held in April-May.
Froome, instead, will have only had 25 days to rest before
Saturday's Grand Depart in Nimes, France, on Saturday.
"I’ve got the opportunity and I’m certainly going to go for it,"
Froome said. "The Vuelta is a race I love – it’s vicious but
it’s three weeks that I enjoy."
Froome has had his share of disappointment in the Vuelta, losing
by 13 seconds to Spain's Juan Jose Cobo in 2011, the year he
came to prominence, before settling again for second in 2014 and
2016.
Last year, the Team Sky rider effectively lost his chances after
being trapped behind following an unexpected attack in a
downhill by Alberto Contador, who will take part in his last
race before heading into retirement.
The Spaniard, who won the last of his seven grand tour titles at
the 2015 Giro d'Italia, is not among the top favorites after
finishing ninth overall in the Tour, where Froome prevailed for
the fourth time.
He will see some familiar faces in Nimes as Italian Fabio Aru,
fellow Briton Simon Yates and Frenchman Romain Bardet -- third
overall in Paris -- also embark on the three-week journey.
The race starts with a team time trial in Nimes and there will
only be one solo effort against the clock but Froome should get
the chance to gain time on his rivals in the 42-km flat
individual time trial - a discipline in which he usually excels.
One of his rivals will be Italian Vincenzo Nibali, while Briton
Adam Yates is the only top contender who has not taken part in
the Tour de France and should arrive fresher.
"I will be in perfect shape for the Vuelta," said Nibali, who
with Contador is one of six riders with titles in all three
grand tours.
Should it be a tight race, it might be decided on the
penultimate day at the top of the Angliru mountain road, known
as one of the hardest climbs in cycling.
The Vuelta will be without title holder Nairo Quintana as the
Colombian is worn out after trying -- and failing -- to win the
Giro/Tour double.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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