Simon Yates joins ranks of Grand Tour winners as British dominance continues

Simon Yates' win in La Vuelta means British cyclists have won the last five Grand Tours – triumphing in France, Italy and Spain – and nine of the last 21 editions of those races.

Yates follows fellow 2018 winners Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas into the history books.

Here Press Association Sport looks at British success in cycling's most prestigious races since Sir Bradley Wiggins' win at the 2012 Tour de France.

Tour de France – July 2012 (Wiggins win)

Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first British Grand Tour winner with victory in the 99th Tour de France. Chris Froome, Wiggins' Team Sky colleague, was second.

Tour de France – July 2013 (Froome win)

Froome won the leadership duel with Wiggins and the 100th edition of the Tour, claiming the yellow jersey with an imperious performance. Wiggins' non-selection means he has never returned to the race since his win.

Tour de France – July 2015 (Froome win)

After crashing out with a fractured wrist and hand in 2014, when the race started in Yorkshire, Froome returned to claim a second yellow jersey despite nursing a chest infection in the final days of racing.

Tour de France – July 2016 (Froome win)

A third win was sealed in dominant fashion, by more than four minutes from his nearest rival, despite Froome having to run up Mont Ventoux when his bike was damaged in a crash.

Tour de France – July 2017 (Froome win)

Win number four followed for Froome, at the start of a sequence which saw him hold all three Grand Tours at the same time. He did not win a stage on this occasion, but secured the yellow jersey to show himself to be the greatest stage racer of his generation.

La Vuelta – September 2017 (Froome win)

After finishing second in 2011, 2014 and 2016, Froome finally won La Vuelta's red jersey, becoming the third man to win the Tour-Vuelta double. He later had to explain an elevated reading of the asthma medication salbutamol and was cleared nine months later.

Giro d'Italia – May 2018 (Froome win)

With the salbutamol case unresolved at the time, Froome's participation was controversial. But a stunning solo win on stage 19 saw Froome seize the leader's pink jersey and with it a first British Giro success.

Tour de France – July 2018 (Thomas win)

Froome sneaked on to the podium behind Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas, who fulfilled his potential after years of being the supporting act by triumphing in Paris. It gave Team Sky and Britain six wins from seven Tours.

La Vuelta – September 2018 (Yates win)

Simon Yates is the first British Grand Tour winner not to ride for Team Sky, competing instead for Australia's Mitchelton-Scott with his twin brother Adam. At 26, the prodigiously talented pair have plenty of opportunities to add to this success.

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