Tour de France 2026

Ok lads the big one starts tomorrow 

I put this outright preview together for WSB  who have their money back for 2nd promo on although they refund in World Coins so I will need to look into that 

Pogacar hard to beat but a quality field Bets

• Straight Forecast: 0.5 unit Pogačar -Lipowitz – 17.00
• Green Jersey: 1 unit Mads Pedersen – 6.50
• Team Classification: 0.5 units Lidl–Trek – 12.00

I will also be doinga  daily stage preview although as I am away for almost 2 weeks from Monday I am not sure whether I will do the video previews which I really enjoy doing 
 

Stage 1 preview for WSB is available here

Wonderful time of the year. Wimbledon, Le Tour and the Open. 

OUTRIGHTS

I have cut down on my pre-race outrights in recent years. Either the books have got much better or I have got worse because I tend to do poorly on them. On to the race

I think the loss of van Aert is massive. Visma could always put him in the break and two or three times you would find Vingegaard and van Aert against Pogs. Now UAE are always going to have the numbers on Visma. On the plus side Pogs has recently experienced a little bad luck for the first time in his career starting with the crash in Milan San Remo. Will take a long shot just in case it follows him here. I like Movistar to have riders in every break so will take them in the team competition. Would have preferred to take them after today's stage as they will shed time but in the past the 1-3 option on teams has disappeared after the start. Lenny Martinez has to be a massive runner in the KOM but we are being offered 7/2 when I see the chaps overseas have got him at around 7/1. Not fair so will wait.


Teams  Top 3
Movistar  @  5/2

Straight
Vingegaard/Del Toro  @  33/1

Stage 1

I reckon INEOS have three of the top five ITT guys in TdF in  their ranks in Ganna,Foss and Tarling. Godon is not half bad either. I think they deliver Bernal and Vauquelin to the base of the last climb with a 40 second lead. Have to take that 9/10.  Will join on the EF Education place. They ran 3rd in the Dauphine and now have Asgreen too so should run well.

Win 
INEOS  @  9/10

1-3
EF Education  @  9/1

TDF stage 1 and outright preview 

 

0.5 unit Lidl Trek win at 11/1 
0.5 unit EF top 3 at 9/1 

Tour de France Stage 2 preview is available here

You Tube preview is also up 



Close with Ineos yesterday Vann, that ride from Ganna was amazing, matched Pogacar up the climb
Lidle Trek gave me a good run and I loved the format 

Todays stage not to be missed - I actually expect the GC battle to explode 

Backing Pogacar at just over 7/10 at WSB with the money back for 2nd (World Coins which I gather can be used as a free bet) 
Also a nibble on Seixas at 33/1 

Taken a unit on Seixas top 3 at 4/1 

I mentioned in the video I would like to see the times up the final climb and I have since found them - comments belowFinal Climb to Finish (last 870 m, 6.55%, 57 m elevation gain)

Selected riders

1:18 – Tadej Pogačar - looked pretty relaxed at the end, I think he comes in here in great shape

1:19 – Filippo Ganna - ride of the day 

1:20 – Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock - good rides, both are in shape 

1:22 – Romain Grégoire - very impressed, may have a stage win in him 

1:23 – Jonas Vingegaard - seemed to be tying up near the end, did less work than most in lead up to the climb

1:24 – Paul Seixas - had to set his own pace up the last 2 climbs, based on that impressive

1:26 – Juan Ayuso - solid

1:36 – Florian Lipowitz - a bit disappointing for my long term forecast

1:57 – Cian Uijtdebroeks - looked terrible 

Thanks for the preview Brent. Nice odds on Seixas. Best my lot are offering is 11/4.

Poor start for me. Uijtdebroeks not well so Movistar had to wait for him. Not good for my team bet.  On the stage Bernal indicated he was flat after 10km so INEOS were left with Vauquelin who had a puncture before the first climb. Meant squad had to tap back as either Ganna or Foss had to save energy for the final climb.

Stage 2

I think Brent's take on GC is right. Visma may not chase but UAE certainly will. Not going to stop me from throwing in something long though. After the loss on yesterday's odds-on I will skip Pogs and take a match bet.

E/W  1-3
Rubio  @  200/1

Match bet double
Vacek/van der Poel - Vauquelin/van Wilder  @  13/4

Have taken a solid strike on Sexias/Vingegaard at 31/20 for stage 2 

Money back for Pogacar at least - man he looks strong and could of won that if he wanted 

Seixas never challenged Vingegaard and its advantage bookmakers 

Here is the You Tube Preview for Stage 3 rhe last for a while 



Healy 25/1
Martinez 66/1 
Storer 99/1 

Enjoy the holiday Brent.

Stage 3

Will join on Healy and add two.Will pick one in play if I have no one in the break

Healy  @  22/1
Romo  @  100/1
Rubio  @  150/1

Stage 4 betting preview and picks from Brent is available here

Dorian Godon and Michael Matthews both 25/1 shots

I think we have to accept that if UAE are at full strength when there is an uphill finish it is hugely unlikely that they will allow the break to win the stage. 

Stage 4

Will join on Matthews and throw in a rider who can climb with a bit of a nippy finish.

E/W 1-3
Matthews  @  28/1

Win and Top10
Kanter  @  200/1

Brent's on his holidays and sent through the Stage 5 preview , Tim Merlier is the pick

 

Stage 5

Straight choice between Merlier and Philipsen. I'm going with the quality of the van der Poel lead out.

Philipsen  @  9/4

will throw a coin or 2 at 2 outsiders today - 

Kanter @ 80/1
Gaviria @ 80/1

Stage 6 preview from Brent is available here Bet: Florian Lipowitz – Top 3 Finish @ 6.00

I havent been able to watch so far this week but will make a plan for todays stage - its going to be a cracker 

Giving this one another go, Seixas/Vingegaard at 21/10