 Froome , who had been second in the 2011 and 2014 Vueltas , had had a strong season , with victories in the Vuelta a Andalucía , the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France . He was attempting to become the first rider since Bernard Hinault in 1978 to win both the Tour and the Vuelta in the same season , though it was expected that he would be tired following his victory in the Tour . The individual time trial was expected to favour Froome , who is strong in the discipline . Before the race , however , Froome was uncertain about his form and his ability to win the race . Quintana 's only stage race victory of the season had come in the Tirreno – Adriatico , but he had performed strongly in the Alps in the Tour 's final stages and the mountainous route of the Vuelta was expected to suit him . 
