The world’s best sprinter Mark Cavendish has been backed from $2.00 into $1.85 at Sportingbet Australia to win the opening stage of the 2013 Tour De France, beginning on Saturday night in Corsica.
“Stage 1 has Cav written all over it and our punters are convinced the Manx Missile will end day 1 of the 2013 tour in yellow,” Sportingbet Australia spokesman Andrew Brown said.
Cavendish’s former team-mate and sprint rival Andre Greipel is $4.25 at Sportingbet, ahead of Marcel Kittel at $6.00 and Peter Sagan at $12. Australia’s Matt Harley Goss is a $17 chance.
In General Classification betting, Tasmanian Richie Porte has been well supported into $17 outright third favouritism at Sportingbet Australia to become the second Australian in three years to win the Tour de France, following Cadel Evans’ breakthrough victory in 2011.
Punters have piled on Porte to perform well at this year’s Tour, backing him in from $501 at Sportingbet since last August.
“Porte has had an incredible season, including victory in Paris-Nice and a strong performance at the Dauphine, and he’s been one of the best backed riders to win the race,” Brown said.
“Porte is riding for his Sky teammate Christopher Froome, but if Froome doesn’t perform or gets injured, punters think Porte has the form and the legs to be Tour De France champion,” Brown said.
Froome is a clear-cut $1.70 favourite at Sportingbet and has dominated betting since finishing runner-up behind teammate Bradley Wiggins last year.
Two-time Tour De France winner Alberto Contador is a $3.50 second favourite at Sportingbet.
“Contador has come off second best in each battle he’s had with Froome this year but you can be guaranteed ‘El Pistolero’ will be firing for the Tour,” Brown said.
Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez is a $21 equal third favourite with Porte, ahead of Nairo Quintana Rojas at $23 and Cadel Evans and Tejay Van Garderen, both at $26.
“Cadel’s odds of winning have drifted from $15 but he surprised us as a $21 shot heading into the 2011 Tour to who is to say he can’t do it again,” Brown said.
In Sportingbet’s Green Jersey market, Peter Sagan is a slight $1.90 favourite ahead of Mark Cavendish at $2.05. Matt Harley Goss is a $41.00 chance.
Frenchman Thomas Voeckler is a $4.00 favourite to be crowned King Of The Mountain, ahead of compatriot Pierre Rolland at $7.50 and Colombian Nairo Quintana at $11.00.
2013 Tour de France – General Classification
Sportingbet Australia market
Christopher Froome $1.70
Alberto Contador $3.50
Richie Porte $17.00
Joaquim Rodriquez $21.00
Nairo Quintana Rojas $23.00
Cadel Evans $26.00
Tejay Van Garderen $26.00
Alejandro Valverde $29.00
Andy Schleck $51.00
Jurgen Van Den Broeck $71.00
Thibaut Pinot $71.00
Ryder Hesjedal $81.00
Others $101+
2013 Tour de France – Points Classification (Green jersey)
Sportingbet Australia market
Peter Sagan $1.90
Mark Cavendish $2.05
Andre Greipel $15.00
Marcel Kittel $34.00
Matthew Goss $41.00
Edvald Boasson Hagen $81.00
Others $101+
2013 Tour de France – King Of The Mountains
Sportingbet Australia market
Thomas Voeckler $4.00
Pierre Rolland $7.50
Nairo Quintana $11.00
Chris Froome $11.00
Frederik Kessiakoff $13.00
Thibout Pinot $15.00
Alberto Contador $19.00
