2013 Record: 13-16 for +4.05 units
Froome +105 for 5 units to win the Tour ? in my mind the biggest competition to Froome was last year?s runner-up Quintana. However, Quintana is sitting out the Tour as he just won the Giro d?Italia and will also attempt to capture the Spanish Vuelta later this year. That leaves Contador as the biggest threat to Froome. Although Contador is in much better shape than last year when he was over 6 minutes behind Froome, he is still too far behind Froome?s abilities in my mind. Contador still has a strong team but is without his best support rider Kreuziger, who is sitting out as he deals with doping allegations. The course is setup really well for Froome with numerous mountain stages. I wouldn?t be surprised if there were multiple attacks early from the likes of Contador, Nibali, Valverde and even Americans Talansky and Van Garderen. However, no one is able to counter and sustain over multiple mountain stages like Froome and his Sky racing team. Additionally only one time trial, and it being a semi-mountainous one, suits Froome perfectly to put further time between him and his competitors.
Cavendish +400 for 1 unit to win Points Classification ? was tempted to wager on Kittel +500 for this category, but don?t think he will be able to best Cavendish and Sagan, but will look for individual matchups on certain stages for Kittel. Cavendish will be the heavy favorite to win stage 1, as it provides him the best chance to wear the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. If he gets that, his team will be motivated to help him keep it as long as possible up to the first mountain stages. Additionally Cavendish is paired back with his lead out man Mark Renshaw for the first time in two seasons. Sagan is definitely the rightful favorite to win this category but there are quite a few positive signs to Cavendish unseating Sagan?s two year reign on this classification.
Will have other wagers on individual matchups when they are released in the next couple of days prior to Saturday?s start of the race.
Froome +105 for 5 units to win the Tour ? in my mind the biggest competition to Froome was last year?s runner-up Quintana. However, Quintana is sitting out the Tour as he just won the Giro d?Italia and will also attempt to capture the Spanish Vuelta later this year. That leaves Contador as the biggest threat to Froome. Although Contador is in much better shape than last year when he was over 6 minutes behind Froome, he is still too far behind Froome?s abilities in my mind. Contador still has a strong team but is without his best support rider Kreuziger, who is sitting out as he deals with doping allegations. The course is setup really well for Froome with numerous mountain stages. I wouldn?t be surprised if there were multiple attacks early from the likes of Contador, Nibali, Valverde and even Americans Talansky and Van Garderen. However, no one is able to counter and sustain over multiple mountain stages like Froome and his Sky racing team. Additionally only one time trial, and it being a semi-mountainous one, suits Froome perfectly to put further time between him and his competitors.
Cavendish +400 for 1 unit to win Points Classification ? was tempted to wager on Kittel +500 for this category, but don?t think he will be able to best Cavendish and Sagan, but will look for individual matchups on certain stages for Kittel. Cavendish will be the heavy favorite to win stage 1, as it provides him the best chance to wear the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. If he gets that, his team will be motivated to help him keep it as long as possible up to the first mountain stages. Additionally Cavendish is paired back with his lead out man Mark Renshaw for the first time in two seasons. Sagan is definitely the rightful favorite to win this category but there are quite a few positive signs to Cavendish unseating Sagan?s two year reign on this classification.
Will have other wagers on individual matchups when they are released in the next couple of days prior to Saturday?s start of the race.
