Register for FREE to read this article.

Already have an account?

You have article views left.
Register for FREE to read more articles.

Already have an account?

Remind me next time

DISCLAIMER: ODDS AND ARTICLE UPDATED 5/7/2018, 19:00.

The 105th Tour de France has its Grand Depart in the Vendee on Saturday and with reigning champion Chris Froome cleared to ride, it is sure to be another dramatic edition of the Grande Boucle.

There's 23 days of racing over 3,329 km to come, with 176 riders across 22 teams all aiming to make it to Paris on July 29. With four jerseys to compete for, there is plenty of value to be had.

Outright winner

Chris Froome @ 9/5 - BET NOW

Froome’s presence means he inevitably dominates the Tour de France betting and is the man to beat with the bookies.

The Team Sky rider will be looking to put his troubles behind him with a showing similar to that when he won May’s Giro d’Italia and if he can peak for the final week, the last few stages look tailor-made for him.

Usual suspects, Richie Porte (5/1) and Romain Bardet (22/1) and 2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali (31/2) will all be dangerous, with the Italian especially likely to attack on the cobbles to Roubaix on Stage 9.

Movistar’s triple threat offensive could be the key to beating Froome, though, with Nairo Quintana (21/2), Alejandro Valverde and the improving Mikel Landa all likely to try and use each other to maximise their GC goals.

This is one of the areas that provides a lack of clarity but if all goes well, Froome should win a record-equalling fifth Tour.

King of the Mountains

Warren Barguil @ - 3/1

The King of the Mountains champion can often be a surprise package but most Tour de France tips will look for Warren Barguil to succeed for the second year running. Barguil won the polka dot jersey last year and despite his surprise switch to Fortuneo-Samsic, leads the betting in this section.

A GC challenge has been suggested but as a Continental team, his superiors may look for a KOM challenge due to the extra exposure provided in front of the television cameras. The nature of the first week may see Barguil switch his focus and while two-time winner, Bora-Hansgrohe’s Rafal Majka (12/1), looks as if he could be his nearest challenger, the Frenchman appears a good bet to double up.

Points Classification 

Peter Sagan @ 1/2 - BET NOW

Points mean prizes and Peter Sagan is the master of accumulating them, winning five Green Jerseys before controversially being disqualified last year after crashing.

The Slovak is expected to make a good start, picking up points in the sprints and then attacking on the rolling stages and even his short price should not put punters off. Stage 9 also suits him having won this year’s Paris-Roubaix and he will look to pounce.

Value can be found with last year’s winner of this category, Michael Matthews, who used Sagan’s blueprint of steadily gathering points in the mountains and challenging in the sprints. 

Despite insisting his priorities lie elsewhere, the Australian looks like he could be his nearest rival, with 18/1 in the Tour de France odds intriguing, especially as the real pure sprinters still need to prove they have the consistency to go full bore for three weeks.

Sign up to Easyodds to use our odds comparison service for all your betting choices!

You can grab any new customer offer in our free bets section to place a wager on these races. Thank you for reading and good luck betting today!