Tour de France Betting: Stage Three

Tour De France / Tobias Gourlay / 06 July 2009 / Leave a Comment

Yesterday's textbook victory sees Mark Cavendish go odds-on for another stage win today, advises Tobias Gourlay

One sprint finish; one stage win for Mark Cavendish. With the help of all eight of his Team Columbia team-mates, who together form the best train in cycling, he was carried to victory with something to spare, although some of his strongest rivals were caught on the wrong side of a crash on the final bend.

The Briton will now wear the green jersey for today's 196.5km stage from Marseille to La Grande Motte. "The green jersey is a big goal for any sprinter and it's beautiful and emotional to wear it," said Cavendish, now a [1.62] favourite to win the points classification, although he suggested he would continue to focus on stage wins, rather than defending the maillot vert.

There is another bunch sprint in prospect this afternoon, and Cannonball Cavendish is as short as [1.69] to record a sixth career stage win. Yesterday, Cavendish avoided the crash by being out front with his team. A similar approach to today's 900m finishing straight is advisable because there could be a strong wind blowing next to the sea.

However, tomorrow is the Team Time-Trial, and Team Columbia might just be ordered to hold something back for that. If so, Cavendish will have to deal with the argy-bargy in the bunch, and his win price will look less attractive. If there isn't any wind, the chances of success for any breakaway are improved, which again goes against the sprinters. All of this said, a sprint finish is more likely than not, and Cavendish is more than likely than not to beat all of his rivals.