Three-time Giro d’Italia winner Bernard Hinault has been inducted into the Giro d’Italia Hall of Fame joining Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, Stephen Roche, Francesco Moser and Ercole Baldini.
“It is an honor to receive my induction into the Giro d’Italia Hall of Fame,” said Hinault. “The Giro is one of the races I have loved the most in my career and I continue to love this race, its passion and its fans. The Giro d’Italia was, and always will be, a very high level international race that everyone wants to win. The Maglia Rosa is symbolic, a history in itself. It has a value and it is fantastic to try to earn it on every race day. For me the Maglia Rosa has the same value as the other important jerseys that I have worn, such as the Rainbow Jersey or the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France.
“Having seen the route of the Giro100, it seems beautiful and very interesting. It has everything to make it exciting until the end: climbs, Time Trials and many challenging stages. It is really tough and complete. I believe the favourites could be Quintana and Nibali.”
Nicknamed ‘The Badger’, Bernard Hinault won the Giro d’Italia in 1980, 1982 and 1985. Known as one of the strongest riders of all time, he is one of only six men ever to have won all three Grand Tours in their career.
Across his career Hinault participated in 13 Grand Tours, winning ten and collecting two second places. An impressive percentage of triumphs, with the truly extraordinary achievement coming at the Giro d’Italia: three General Classification victories from three starts.
