Why Vuelta a Espana has become a stronger race than the Tour de France -

This year's Vuelta a Espana looks like it could be Tour de France: The sequel. It is a genuine Tour de Force.

We are going to have an absolutely absorbing race. It is going to be brilliant.

Every year, the Vuelta has almost morphed into the race where old scores are settled.

If someone missed out elsewhere, this provides them with a second chance. In the case of the Tour de France winner Chris Froome, those who achieved greatness want to continue their run.

We have the World Championships to come in Norway in September, but it is almost like the last duel before the season ends. It is a proper battle.

We've actually described the Vuelta as the best of the grand tours over the past three seasons because it has been the big sort out.

Previously, we've had injuries and guys off form at the Giro d'Italia then the Tour de France. But in recent times, there has been a real proper battle at this time of the year with the main protagonists fresh and prepared.

Froome is going there meaning business, and Romain Bardet is going to offer a real challenge.

You also have other great Brits in Adam and Simon Yates, who is fresh from missing the Tour, with Rafa Majka, Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Aru, Ilnur Zakarin and Steven Kruijswijk all possible candidates for GC with Alberto Contador saying an emotional farewell to these grand tours.

The field is simply dripping with class, and has depth.

The roster for the Vuelta is so impressive. It is almost like one grand tour linked to another.

I don't know what Movistar are going to do because they have basically lost the injured Alejandro Valverde and the exhausted Nairo Quintana for their home race.

That is going to be an empty team. The folly of taking on too much has been displayed in Quintana, who has struggled since doing four straight grand tours.

Froome finished second in 2014 and 2016, but 2011 at the Vuelta was his big reveal when he finished 13 seconds behind Jose Cobo. He went on to back up Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France when he could easily have won the Tour that year. Everybody else thought so.

That is where is stock rose exponentially, and now of course he is the most successful active cyclist on planet earth.

The French greats of Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1973) managed the double of Tour and Vuelta when the Tour of Spain was held around April and May.

Froome has had 25 days since the Tour to ready himself before the Grand Depart in Nimes on Saturday. Enough time?

Well, the good thing about the Tour and the Vuelta being so close together is that when you achieve your form in the Tour, the Tour form comes in on the third week.

If there was a five week or more gap, your form can dip. The bridge between the Tour and the Vuelta is sustainable.

Essentially, you go into cruise mode at your peak form and then go again. For the very best guys, like Froome, it is almost like the ideal link.

Every year in cycling is like a book with so many chapters. You have in your head the story of the year, old rivalries and that is what makes this magical.

Can Froome achieve the double?

Well, he is genetically made for this task of winning long grand tour cycling events.

But it is a tough one to call which makes it so fascinating. Let battle commence.