Tour de France Betting Odds: People bet on cycling across the globe and BookMaker customers can be prepared for the action by reading every Tour de France preview. Start filling your brain with biking knowledge and start cashing your wagers today! The 2011 Tour de France cycling odds will run from Saturday, July 2 to Sunday, July 24. The Tour de France is the pinnacle of cycling’s "Grand Tours" and 2011 will mark the 98th running of the prestigious race.

2011 Tour de France Winner - Australia goes wild for Evans, their first Tour de France champion

Even in a country that has a tradition of punching above its weight in international competitions, Cadel Evans' Tour de France triumph was being hailed as one of Australia's finest sporting achievements, well before he completed the largely ceremonial ride to the finish line in Paris on Sunday.

While politicians at state and federal level were discussing how to commemorate the victory - by erecting a monument, hosting a parade or staging a massive party, among other ideas - the citizens in Barwon Heads outside Melbourne were wearing yellow and pitching the idea of naming a bridge near the town in honour of their favourite son.

Evans celebrated after crossing the finish line in the pack on the Champs-Elysee, embracing riders from different teams as the massive crowd on France's most famous thoroughfare cheered wildly.

 

With riders and teams spanning from myriad countries, fans across the globe gather in France each July to watch professional cyclists compete on a world stage. The race encompasses 21 stages and the winner is determined by the lowest aggregate time. He is awarded with the coveted Yellow Jersey.

The first Tour de France was held in 1903 after journalist Géo Lefèvre convinced his editor at L’Auto Magazine to sponsor an epic racing event. Only 21 of the 60 cyclists in the field that year finished.

Le Tour has served as an enormous economic stimulant for France. Host towns welcome visitors that crowd roadsides, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite riders. The race’s total distance of 3,471 kilometers stretches across flatlands, hillsides and mountains.

Where there is a sporting event, and spectators to watch, there will be wagering. The Tour de France cycling odds are a fun way to follow the race even if you aren’t a biking aficionado. BookMaker offers odds for head-to-head matchups, individual stage winners and of course the overall winner.

Alberto Contador has donned the Yellow Jersey three straight years so he is the odds-on favorite to repeat at 4/6. The Spaniard is such an overwhelming favorite that most books are offering his odds only against the ‘field’ and the remaining peloton is 11/10. This means you are taking any cyclist but Contador to win.

But players can also bet on the winner without Contador and odds are adjusted to reflect the race without the favorite in it. Andy Schlek leads the pack in this type of wagering with 8/11 odds. The rider from Luxembourg finished second, just 39 seconds behind Contador, at last year’s Tour de France.

Ivan Basso, the winner of the Giro d`Italia, is the second favorite without Contador at 9/1. He is followed by Robert Gesink (11/1) and Cadel Evans (12/1).

A darkhorse pick in this year’s race Tour de France cycling odds is Riccardo Riccò. He was banned for doping following the 2008 season but could be eager to prove his mettle this season. Somewhat off the radar currently, some books have Ricco as high as 70/1 to win.

After winning seven Yellow Jerseys in his storied career, Lance Armstrong will not compete in the 2011 Tour de France. He announced his “official” retirement from competitive cycling in February of this year. Armstrong has widely been accused of doping and those allegations have left his legacy tainted.

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France cycling odds, said in a statement that the route of this year's race was designed with two objectives in mind: to set the pace from the beginning of the race and maintain suspense right up until the very end. These focal points should offer an exciting event for sports bettors to place wagers on so get in on the action at BookMaker today!

BookMaker is the only sportsbook where you can get the earliest betting spreads, totals, moneylines and props. If you want to wager on Tour de France cycling odds like the pros do, you need to join Bookmaker.eu today!

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