Tadej Pogacar from UAE Workforce Emirates is at present the betting favourite to win the 2023 Tour de France at -125 odds. That’s although he’s in second place total with 12 phases remaining. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from Jumbo-Visma is at present in first place, and he’s proper behind Pogacar at +110 odds to win the Tour de France in consecutive years.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Workforce Emirates) and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard ascend to the highest of Puy de Dome in Stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France. (Picture: Reuters)
The Tour de France has accomplished the primary 9 phases and has its first relaxation day on Monday. There are nonetheless 12 extra phases remaining, together with a number of grueling mountain phases within the Alps.
Vingegaard is at present carrying the yellow jersey because the first-place rider within the peloton, however the Dane’s lead is shrinking. The defending champ holds only a 17-second lead over Slovenia’s Pogacar in second place.
Pogacar gained the Tour de France in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021, and he was the runner-up final summer season. Vingegaard and Pogacar developed a fierce rivalry over the past couple of years after Vingegaard completed in second place in 2021.
Pogacar is looking for a 3rd win at Le Tour, however he’s nursing a wrist harm. In the meantime, Vingegaard is trying to defend his title.
Previous to Stage 1, oddsmakers put in Vingegaard as a slim favourite to win the 2023 Tour de France, +110 odds over Pogacar at +115 odds.
Vingegaard and Pogacar Battle within the Pyrenees
After the primary 4 phases, Pogacar emerged with an 11-second lead over Vingegaard earlier than the peloton headed into the Pyrenees Mountains.
Australia’s Jai Hindley from Bora-Hansgrohe gained Stage 5 at Laruns and seized first place within the GC standings to safe the yellow jersey. Vingegaard moved into second place when he completed 64 seconds forward of Pogacar at Laruns.
Pogacar gained Stage 6 at Cauterets-Cambasque, which included an ascent of the notorious Col du Tourmalet. He completed 24 seconds forward of Vingegaard, who took second place in Stage 6.
Hindley acquired dropped on the ascent of the Tourmalet and misplaced the lead within the GC standings when he completed in sixth place in Stage 6. Vinegaard jumped into first place within the GC standings and seized the yellow jersey with a 25-second total lead over Pogacar in second place.
After a mellow subsequent two phases, Pogacar trimmed away eight treasured seconds in Stage 9 throughout a punishing summit end at Puy de Dome on Sunday.
Heading into Stage 10 on Tuesday, Vingegaard holds only a 17-second lead, however he stays within the coveted maillot jaune since Stage 6.
It’s nonetheless too near name the race between Vingegaard and Pogacar with 12 phases remaining. Pogacar seized the momentum in the previous couple of phases, however Vingegaard thrives within the Alps throughout longer phases in increased altitudes.
Three mountain phases are on the upcoming schedule this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Stage 13 is slated for Friday in a 138-kilometer route that options the long-lasting Grand Colombier.
Jasper the Catastrophe Snags Hat Trick
Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen from Alpecin–Deceuninck established himself as the highest sprinter on the 2023 Tour de France with three stage victories. He at present wears the inexperienced jersey designated for the main sprinter within the peloton.
Philipsen, nicknamed Jasper the Catastrophe, capped off the 2022 Tour de France with a dash victory within the last stage in Paris. He started this summer season with back-to-back victories in Stage 3 in Bayonne, and in Stage 4 in Nogaro. He additionally gained Stage 7 in Bordeaux.
In the event you had advised me per week in the past, I’d have advised you that you simply’re loopy,” stated Philipsen. “Can’t be proud sufficient of the crew. With out them it could have been unattainable to win a 3rd stage already. We labored collectively and that led to success. I used to be at all times on a superb wheel and by no means needed to make a giant effort earlier than I needed to produce my dash.”
On a little bit of a tragic observe, British sprinter Mark Cavendish from Astana Qazaqstan Workforce needed to drop out of the Le Tour. Cavendish crashed throughout Stage 8. A shocked and demoralized Cavendish was whisked away in an ambulance with a fractured collar bone.
With a complete of 34 stage wins, Cavendish is tied with five-time champion Eddy Merckx for probably the most stage victories in Tour de France historical past. The 36-year-old Cavendish supposed to retire after this yr’s racing season and was using within the Tour de France for one last time. Cavendish and his teammates hoped he may break Merckx’s report throughout one of many six flat phases on this yr’s schedule.
Cavendish completed in second place in Stage 7 when Philipsen denied him a thirty fifth stage victory.
Jai Hindley Preventing for Third Place
Biking followers caught their first glimpse of Australia’s Hindley when he gained the 2022 Giro d’Italia. He didn’t trip within the final yr’s Tour de France, however impressed large expectations in Le Tour this yr.
With everybody anticipating Vingegaard and Pogacar to slug it out to find out the yellow jersey winner on this yr’s Tour de France, the remainder of the GC contenders have been battling for third place. A number of specialists and oddsmakers pegged Hindley as a possible GC contender. Hindley had the third-best odds on the futures board behind Pogacar and Vingegaard earlier than the Grand Depart in Spain.
Hindley gained his first stage on the Tour de France within the Pyrenees Mountains throughout a 163-kilometer trip from Pau to Laruns. The Aussie took over first place within the GC standings and snagged the yellow jersey after profitable the primary difficult mountain stage on this yr’s route.
It’s actually unimaginable, I’ve no phrases,” Hindley stated after profitable Stage 5. “I simply needed to take as a lot time as doable, and likewise the stage win. Discovered myself within the yellow jersey, in order that’s fairly cool.”
Hindley spent simply someday within the yellow jersey earlier than he coughed it as much as Vingegaard after Stage 6.
Hindley at present occupies third place within the GC standings. He’s 2:40 behind Vingegaard in first place, and a couple of:23 behind Pogacar in second place. Hindley is 102 seconds forward of Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) in fourth place. He’s practically two minutes forward of the twins: Adam Yates (UAE Workforce Emirates) in fifth place, and Simon Yates (Workforce Jayco Alula) in sixth place.
Hindley is +100 odds to complete within the high three podium spots, based on DraftKings. He leads Rodriguez (+200), Simon Yates (+200), and Adam Yates (+450) within the battle for third place.
