Alberto Contador dominates 2010 Tour de France betting the way Tiger Woods once dominated golf betting. But Contador is an odds-on favorite to win the world's most revered bicycle race, something Woods never achieved in a Major, even in the best of times. In fact, Contador is such an overwhelming favorite that there also is a Tour de France future book in which Contador's finish is not considered. More about that, later.
Contador, the two-time and reigning Tour de France champion, is no higher than -150 (bet $150 to win $100), the equivalent of 2/3, at any of the 17 sportsbooks surveyed. In fact, the Spaniard was offered at odds as low as -225 (4/9) at one book and -200 (1/2) at two others. Given that the Tour de France will stretch over 23 grueling days and 2,234 miles, and that an accident, an illness, an equipment malfunction or a poorly timed break from the pack are all it takes to ruin a rider's chances, sportsbooks are displaying amazing confidence in the cyclist.
But Contador, who won his first Tour de France in 2007 and wore the Yellow Jersey again in 2009, seems primed to make it three-for-four in this race, which, this year starts in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, July 3 and ends with a ride down the famed Champs-Elysees in Paris, July 25.
Originally known as a climbing specialist—never a bad reputation to hold when the Tour de France begins its trek though the Pyrenees late in the race—Contador now is regarded as an all-rounder, a cyclist who excells in all aspects of stage racing. Contador won his first race of the season, the Volta ao Algarve, in February and followed that up with a triumph in the Paris-Nice in March. Contador definitely is the man to beat but whether you want to take a short price on him is your call.
Should Contador falter, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, and all those who back him at odds of 6/1, could be the beneficiaries. Schleck finished second to Contador in last year's Tour de France and at age 25, still has his best riding days ahead of him.
Venerable Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive years, even at age 38 still is a formidable competitor as evidenced by his 8/1 odds in the future book. Armstrong retired from racing in July of 2005 after winning his seventh straight Tour de France but returned to competitive cycling in January of 2009 and finished third in last year's Tour de France. Armstrong has raced well, if not spectacularly, in 2010, finishing seventh at the Vuelta a Murcia and third at the Tour of Luxembourg. Cleaarly, Armstrong's experience and iron will make him impossible to eliminate from betting contention.
After Contador, Schleck and Armstrong, it's double digits or more on anyone else. That includes Italy's Ivan Basso, the winner of June's Giro d'Italia, his first victory since returning from a two-year ban for doping. Basso is held at odds of 16/1 in future book betting.
Australia's Cadel Evans, at odds of 18/1, also is in the hunt. Evans finished as the Tour de France runner-up in both 2007 and 2008.
Britain's Bradley Wiggins is another who could threaten for the title. Wiggins, 18/1, won three medals on the track at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and two more at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing while finishing fourth in last year's Tour de France.
As it usually is, the 2010 Tour de France probably will be won during stages 15-17 through the Pyrenees Mountains. Celebrating the first Tour de France in 1910, stages 15-17 take the riders to memorable heights, including the crushing ascent to the mountain top finish at Tourmalet in stage 17.
In addition to straight wagering, many books also are offering futures on which rider will finish first if Contador's finish is not considered. Schleck is the +250 favorite (bet $100 to win $250) in this future book with Armstrong next at odds of +600, Basso at +650 and Evans at +700.
There's also the equivalent of a racetrack show wager in which you can bet whether a cyclist finishes in the top three. Contador is -800 to finish on the podium while Schleck also is odds-on at -150. It 's +160 that Armstrong gets another top three finish while Basso is +350, Evans is +450 and Wiggins is +500.
Despite an overwhelming favorite, the challenging course and the unpreditable nature of the event should add a degree of uncertainty to 2010 Tour de France betting.
