Pros On Bikes – A Gambler’s Guide To Who’s Who In The 2015 Tour De France

Jean-Christophe Peraud, a french favorite to grab the Tour de France title.

As the Tour de France 2015 edition draws close, punters on online gambling sites in France have started to place their bets on who will win one of the most challenging races worldwide, come July 4 when the 3 weeks Tour kicks off in the Netherlands. Among the list of those set for impressive wins are Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana who all won one Grand Tour in 2014.

While, Chris Froome, the British winner in the 2013 edition of La Grande Boucle and Jean-Christophe Peraud remain outstanding contenders. In any case, lets look at all the favorites who will battle it out in some of the 21 stages of the Tour de France as they give it all they've got for the medals and the money.

The Top Trio

In 2013, the Colombian Nairo Quintana, an excellent cyclist, shone on the the tough mountain terrains of France at only 23 years old, finishing second overall. Last year, though Quintana chose to focus on the Giro, luckily disregarding La Grande Boucle. Now Quintana is all geared up for what may be the biggest ride of his life as he faces the challenge to win the Tour de France. But he is not alone, and may face stiff competition from Alberto Contador.

Last year, Contador won both the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country before going on to the Tour de France. He excelled in the Tour de France despite the big mess in stage 10 his big goal, which saw him leaving the contest with a broken leg. However, he has made a startling comeback at the 2014 Vuelta España, where he won his home race over Chris Froome, another firm favorite.

The Sicilian, Vincenzo Nibali, is another hot contender who knows how to handle a bike on cobblestones. He raced unrivaled to Paris, winning four stages along the way. It's anybody's bet whether Chris Froome and Alberto Contador would have been worthy contenders as not many people are as skillful on a bike as is Nibali. At his best, Nibali climbs with the aptitude of a mountain goat on wheels and fans are hoping that he will race to the top, and to victory.

As an outsider in the race Thibaut's feat is to make a name in his own country

So what is Thibaut Pinot up to these days? According to French gambling news, the 25-year-old Frenchman is the one almost every online betting fan who loves cycling wishes to see win in Paris. Last year Pinot showed to the world that he had talent coming up close behind Nabili at 8’24″ and his countrymen all hope that a french fella like him will make it to the podium.

Fabio Aru, a 24 year old Italian cycled his way to fame winning two stages in La Vuelta and one in the Giro, in 2014. However he ended up in the fifth and third places in the overall races of both Grand Tours. Although it is well known that in the Tour Aru is there to support Nibali, nobody knows if he can actually outshine him, but a stage win would be welcome.

As a former Sky team member, Rigoberto Uran from Colombia, was a leader last year at Omega Pharma which earned him second place in the Giro. He was just 3’07” behind winner Nairo Quintana. Fans are hoping that Uran will become a serious rival in the Grand Tours this year.

No long TTs in this year's Tour – a disadvantage for some

Speculations from the French gamblers who want to bet on their countrymen under French gambling laws, favor Jean-Christophe Peraud, Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet. Bettors are hoping against hope that cycling will be more than just a favorite hobby of the French and that the trio will make it to the finals. Pinot and Bardet are unrivaled climbers even though they may not be able to race as quickly. Only time will tell.


But in the meanwhile, it is thought that if Alejandro Valverde cycles, it will be just to support his buddy on the bike, Quintana. Well, he may as well, as he seems to lack individual TT kilometers and is more fit for shorter, steeper races as does Tejay van Garderen and Froome, who won last year's Tour of Oman and the Tour de Romandie. What is needed is some inspiration for the Team Sky member to strengthen his position, along with climbers Leopold König and Wout Poels.

Andrew Talansky could do better than Armstrong if he stays clean and in one piece, following his multiple crashes last year which caused him to swing out of the race. The Tour de France 2015 could be the opportunity to prove to the world that an American cyclist can actually win a title without being drugged, given his tenacious nature.