Team Sky rider Chris Froome to ride Vuelta a Espana after Tour de France triumph

Team Sky's Chris Froome will attempt to become the first rider since 1978 to win the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana in the same year after confirming his appearance at the third grand tour race of the year.

The Briton had been included in the 14-man provisional squad for the 70<sup>th edition of the race which takes place between 22 August and 13 September, but has confirmed his participation via his official Twitter account.

"Looking forward to taking on the Vuelta. Tough but always exciting for the viewers #bringiton," the 30-year-old wrote.

Froome will have Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali, the riders who he beat to claim his second Tour de France victory, for company in Spain as he attempts to join an exclusive list of cyclists to have won two grand tours in a single year.

French duo Jacques Anquetil in 1963 and Bernard Hinault in 1978 are the only cyclists to complete the Tour-Vuelta double in the same year, meaning Froome is looking to become the first rider for 37 years to achieve the feat.

The Kenyan-born rider is twice a runner-up at the Spanish race, finishing behind home favourites Juan Jose Cobo in 2011 and Alberto Contador in 2014, but Froome will be confident of going one step further after winning the Tour by 72 seconds.