All roads lead to Bilbao this week and the Tour de France’s Grand Depart in the Basque country on Saturday.
Unlike Royal Ascot, which was a graveyard for favourites as unfancied longshots stormed homes left, right and centre, this year’s edition of the greatest show on two wheels appears to be a two-horse race.
Dane Jonas Vingegaard won the three-week slog to Paris last summer. Victory for the 25-year-old shattered the dominance of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who had to settle for the runners-up spot after triumphing in 2020 and 2021.
The 24-year-old UAE Team Emirates rider was at his brilliant best as the 2023 season started, winning a series of spring races to set this year’s standard and throw down the gauntlet.
But a fractured wrist forced him out of competitive action for two months and meant he missed valuable preparation time so there has to be questions over his race fitness.
Pogacar insists the forced break came ‘at the perfect time’ as it provided the chance to rest and recharge batteries which may have run dangerously low if he had continued racing.
He’s 7/5 with SpreadEx to be wearing yellow in the French capital on the final day of the Tour on Sunday, July 23 and his hunger to regain his crown has to be factored into the equation.
But Vingegaard is in cracking form and bathed in the spotlight when enjoying the perfect preparation for the main event with overall victory and two stage wins in the Criterium du Dauphine after success with three stage wins in the Itzulia Basque Country.
It’s a close call but Vingegaard looks the better option at 5/4 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Punters seeking an upset at a huge price could do worse than sticking a few euros on France’s big hope David Gaudu.
A career best fourth overall last year, he was in hot form before a below par effort in the Dauphine but it must be noted that was the case last year as well.
He’s 50/1 with numerous firms including Betway and could be each-way value for a place on the final podium if he doesn’t quite manage to cause an upset by poking a stick in the spokes of the big two.
• Britain’s Mark Cavendish needs just one stage win to move clear of the legendary Eddie Merckx at the top of the all-time Tour de France list. He’s 6/4 with bet365 to celebrate stage win 35.
• Darren Moore’s departure from Sheffield Wednesday after leading them to promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs was shocking and shameful. The Owls’ loss may be Barnsley’s gain, however, and he’s 5/2 with Bet Victor to fill the managerial vacancy at Oakwell, where he played with distinction as a centre-half.
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