Chris Froome latest: Team Ineos rider awarded 2011 Vuelta a Espana title after Juan Jose Cobo stripped for doping
Froome has retrospectively become Britain's first Grand Tour winner, despite currently being sidelined with serious injuries after a suffering a practice crash during last month's Criterium du Dauphine
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Chris Froome has officially been named as the winner of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana following a doping case involving Juan Jose Cobo, retrospectively making him Britain's first Grand Tour winner.
It sees Froome collect a seventh title from one of cycling's three-week races.
World governing body the UCI had announced last month that the now-retired Cobo had been found "guilty of an anti-doping violation (Use of a prohibited substance) based on abnormalities from 2009 and 2011 detected in his Biological Passport" and ruled him ineligible for a period of three years.
The Spaniard had 30 days in which to appeal against the sanction but presumably has not, with the UCI updating the results on its official website.
Cobo, riding for Geox-TMC, had beaten Froome by 13 seconds eight years ago, with Froome's fellow Team Sky rider Sir Bradley Wiggins third, one minute and 39 seconds down. The British pair are now listed as first and second.
Froome is therefore Britain's first Grand Tour winner as Wiggins did not win the Tour de France until the following July, 10 months later.
Froome adds the title to his Tour de France wins in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, his Vuelta win in 2017, and the 2018 Giro d'Italia crown.
News of Cobo's doping violation came just a day after Froome was involved in a horror crash during a reconnaissance ride at the Criterium du Dauphine, in which he suffered a broken femur and broken ribs amongst a long list of injuries, ending his hopes of a record-equalling fifth Tour crown this July.
The 34-year-old spent a full three weeks in hospital before being released for rehabilitation, and has this week been riding on an indoor training bike using one leg.
PA
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