ALEX WHEELER: Tour De France

One of the greatest shows on earth? It might not be the World Cup, Olympics or Darts World Championship final but make no mistake the Tour De France is a real spectacle to behold!

It’s the tours centenary year so organisers have made it especially mountainous with none other than 4 summit finishes out of the 6 mountain stages. There’re also five hilly finishes as well as two individual time trials. Every year we say this could be the best Tour ever but this really does look like a juicy affair!

With such a difficult course it’s a shame the betting isn’t a bit more even and competitive. It’s going to take a superhuman effort to win it this year.

This year’s favourite is another Brit in the seemingly infallible Chris Froome. I came a bit unstuck last year when I said Wiggins was surely a lay at the short price. I didn’t realise how strong a team Sky had put together for him including….Chris Froome. I did tip up Niballi each way last year so it wasn’t all doom and gloom. This year, I’d obviously love to see “Froomey” do it for blighty again but I’m not sure I can take the general 8/11 on offer. He’s an excellent rider who will have his time trialling ability to fall back on should he come unstuck in any of the mountain stages. His time trialling ability should see him home but it’s a brutal route and I can’t take odds on just yet.

Second in is Alberto Contador at a general 5/2. He could represent a bit more value as he’s won this race three times (disqualified once for doping) and won last year Vuelta’s against Froome and Rodriguez. However, he did finish 4’27 behind Froome in the general classification. With Contador I’d again wait until the race unfolds a bit before backing him at that price.

For me there are a couple of good each way bets against the big two. Myself and fellow Tour enthusiast Lofty will steer you in the direction of the BMC rider Tejay Van Garderen at a very decent price of 25/1. He was stronger than Cadel last year and should be allowed to ride for himself this year. He’s also a very good time trialist who will have improved all round from last year. He finished 3rd in this year’s Criterium du Dauphine which is usually a good indication of form. Another person I recommend an interest bet for is Pierre Roland. He’s finished in the top ten the last couple of years but has been riding for the always aggressive Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler will be targeting individual stage victories this year as there’s a lot of punchy, hilly stages that will suit his style. Rolland is 100/1 but may spring a surprise as the lead contenders won’t take him as seriously as others further up the betting.

Of the other categories I’d recommend Rolland for the King of the Mountains, Cavendish for the points and Van Garderen for the young riders. If Cavendish makes it to the bunch sprint at the end of each stage he cannot lose. The team is built for him to take bunch sprints!

For anyone who says cycling is boring I urge you to follow this year’s Tour De France. There’ll be nothing but drama the whole way through. Let the fight for the office TV space begin. Allez le Tour!!