The 2018 Tour de France will begin on Saturday and we are set for three weeks of exciting sprints, tough hill climbing and terrific competition.
The 105th edition of the grand tour has drawn the world’s best road cyclists including reigning champion Chris Froome, who remains a firm $3 favourite to win general classification at the 2018 Tour de France, from Australia’s Richie Porte ($5), Nairo Quintana ($8) and Mikel Landa ($10).
Below you can find our 2018 Tour De France tips for General Classification, as well as market previews for King of the Mountains and Points Classification.
Overall Winner
Chris Froome ($3)
Froome has officially been welcomed back into the peloton after an initial ban for an adverse doping test and is subsequently a firm $3 favourite to defend his 2017 title at the Tour de France.
The thirty-three-year-old is amidst an incredible run of form which has in fact delivered the three most-recent Tours de France, as well as the 2017 Vuelta a Espana and this year’s Giro D’Italia.
The Team Sky star is a justifiable favourite and looks over the odds at $3 to add another major to his mantle.
Richie Porte ($5)
Australia’s major hope at the 2018 Tour de France lies with Richie Porte and he may never be offered a better opportunity to win the time-honoured classic.
The BMC rider has been one of the Tour’s most consistent performers for more than a decade and boasts an impressive toolkit with strong ability in both climbing and timed stages. He’ll need his team to be at their best to topple Froome, but there is no denying his ability and he can be right in the finish come late July.
Romain Bardet ($13)
AG2R’s Romain Bardet has the arsenal to make a real impact at the 2018 Tour de France and looks a nice bet at $13.
The Frenchman is one of the best mountain climbers in the peloton and will be given every chance to show his ability on what is a reasonably steep course. He fell down on the time trial stages in 2017 but still managed to finish third and with better conditions this year, is a real chance of climbing further up the podium.
King of the Mountains
The polka dot jersey is awarded to the most prolific mountain climber at the Tour de France and is it always an exciting contest from a spectator’s and betting perspective. The market currently sees Fortuneo-Samsic as a $3.50 favourite, from Mikel Landa ($5.50), Thomas De Gendt ($8.50) and Rafal Majka ($11).
In support of general classification contender Nairo Quintana, Landa just missed the podium at last year’s Tour de France and he is undoubtedly at his best on climbing stages. He is an integral member of arguably the strongest team at this year’s tour (Movistar) and will be tough to beat in the mountains.
Tip: Mikel Landa to Win ($5.50)
Points Classification
The best sprinter at the Tour de France is classified the Points Classification winner and is ultimately awarded the green jersey. This has shaped as one of the clearest markets at the 2018 Tour de France and Peter Sagan is the $1.40 from Fernando Gaviria ($4.50) and Dylan Groenewegen ($9).
Sagan won every Points Classification race at the Tour de France from 2012-2016 inclusive and is undoubtedly the world’s best road sprinter. He’ll be given every opportunity to regain his crown this year and will be tough to beat.
Tip: Peter Sagan to Win ($1.40)