Undeniably one of the world’s best-known cycle races, the Tour de France has certainly had a few ups and downs in recent history but remains one of the globe’s most prestigious titles. Running from 7 to 29 July, the race route promises a number of exciting amendments for the 105th edition, but the big question is who will cycle into Paris in yellow?
Tour de France Betting
This is the biggest annual sporting event, attracting more live spectators than the Olympic Games or Fifa World Cup, so a lot is riding on who will win the 3 540-kilometre race.
Anyone looking to place bets on this year’s Tour de France should definitely check out these top contenders.
- Chris Froome (Team Sky)
The Kenyan-born, South Africa-educated British rider is the number one contender for the 2018 title, although having just won the Giro d’Italia, naysayers might question whether he will be ready for the gruelling Tour de France. This title has made him the seventh rider to win three Grand Tours in a row – Alberto Contador having been stripped of his Grand Tour title – and the third rider to hold all three titles simultaneously. The 33-year-old has already proved his worth on four routes of the Tour de France, and, following only the briefest rest period following the Giro, will be back to training in an attempt to re-claim the title.
Current betting odds: 6/10
- Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb)
The Dutch rider has just finished second in the Giro d’Italia and Team Sunweb has announced he will be targetting yellow at the Tour de France. This sportsman has really proved his cycling worth after just missing podium place in the 2015 Vuelta a España and having taken his first Grand Tour title with the 2017 Giro D’Italia which few thought he would accomplish. The current reigning Individual World Time Trial Champion definitely looks set to clinch another Grand Tour title.
Current betting odds 12/1
- Richie Porte (BMC Racing)
This Australian rider wants to get his name out there following a number of unfortunate career setbacks. In 2014 he was to lead Team Sky at the Giro d’Italia but a chest infection forced him to miss the entire race. Undeterred, he returned to the saddle for the build-up to the Tour de France but, en route during the mountainous stages his illness re-surfaced and he had to sit the rest of the year out. The 2015 season proved better, with Porte leading Team Sky at the Giro D’Italia although a few crashes forced him to retire early but he did play a key role in Froome’s Tour de France success. He put on a good performance in 2016 and 2017 for BMC Racing – although another crash saw him break a scapula –he took the win at Tour de Romandie. Another crash in 2017 saw him ruled out of the Tour de France so he will be looking seriously at the 2018 option.
Current betting odds 7/2
- Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates)
Touting himself as the next great Italian Grand Tour racer, Fabio Aru certainly took his first win in 2015 Vuelta a España, finishing second in the Giro d’Italia that same year. He’s since turned his eyes on a Tour de France prize and, while his pre-race form can be described as somewhat lacking, he has Grand Tour pedigree. He’s just come off an inexplicably poor Giro d’Italia, a race many considered his to win, but if he can get his head right in time, it might just be the French Tour that turns his season around.
Current betting odds 66/1
- Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
The Colombian will line-up alongside the Spanish squad‘s two other strongest general classification riders Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa for the Tour, with none of them having attempted to try their luck at victory at the Giro d’Italia earlier in the year. He made no secret that he is aiming to stand on the top step of the podium come the final day in Paris after a slower build-up to the race which has seen him race just 29 days in comparison to 48 days last year.
Current betting odds 13/2
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Betting Odds correct at time of publication.
