Sastre to power up the Alps? Tour de France betting

Bet 10 get 20 on the Tour de France with Paddy Power.

It's been a cracker of a Tour so far, and Hincapie's rapid rise up the rankings has shaken a few people up. However, few expect him to survive this gruelling final week which culminates in a huge climb up the Mont Ventoux. Alberto Contador is the huge favourite with the bookies, with many quoting him at 1/3 or 4/11, so it's worth looking further down the field.

Naturally, you can never discount Lance Armstrong, who is still in there and is some kind of super human. In fact, I'd love him to win it if only to annoy the French, who despise anyone who craves success. Even Frenchmen who crave success. It's as if they only like people who love failure, and their continuing whining at Mark Cavendish's brilliance is another reason to wish a thunderstorm upon the entire nation.

Still... betting without Contador gives you 10/1 against Sastre, and 33/1 with Contador in the field. He's well off the pace right now, but a couple of breakaways in the Alps and he might well be in with a chance.

Cadel Evans is another one quoted at the same odds, and he's someone who can take advantage of his power up the mountains.

The battle for green, however, has been one of the main talking points. Thor Hushovd is now 1/5 to win it after Mark Cavendish was disqualified yesterday for 'leaning' upon another rider. That's a huge shame as the sprints are all but finished now as the race heads into a week in the mountains. Cavendish is still 3/1 and there's no doubt that he'll be in the front row heading down the Champs Elysees, which has been his dream all along. That could get him the points he requires to win the green jersey, so 3/1 is tempting.

And looking ahead to the Vuelte, the Tour of Spain, Alberto Contador is our dead cert for this one, and he's 5/4 with Paddy Power at the moment - odds that are well worth taking.

published: 19th July 2009 by Free Bet Bookmaker

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