Tour King Lance Armstrong looking for Title Number Eight
Lance Armstrong goes into this years Tour de France with the world wondering if he has taken on one Tour too many and whether he can compete with guys 10 or 15 years his junior.
Armstrong is the 5-1 second favourite with Coral bookmakers behind Astana team mate and 2007 champion Alberto Contador and a 14-1 chance to win the opening time trial stage in Monaco. Mark Cavendish is the favourite to take the sprinters crown and green jersey at 10-11.
"Armstrong is a legend, but his army of followers have turned to the younger, maybe fitter riders this year, and it could be a matter of hours before we know if the great man is up to competing again at the highest of levels, in his favoured time trial" Coral spokesman Gary Burton told Oddspreview this evening.
Tour de France 2009 Outright Betting (odds from Coral)
10-11 (from Evs) Alberto Contador, 5-1 Lance Armstrong, 7-1 Andy Schleck, 8-1 Cadel Evans, 14-1 Denis Menchov, 16-1 Carlos Sastre, 25-1 Levi Leipheimer, 40-1 Bar
Stage 1 Winner
4-7 Fabian Cancellara, 8-1 Alberto Contador, 10-1 Cadel Evans, 12-1 Bradley Wiggins, 14-1 Lance Armstrong, 16-1 Tony Martin, Levi Leipheimer, 25-1 David Millar.33-1 Bar
Green Jersey (Top Sprinter)
10-11 Mark Cavendish, 7-2 Oscar Freire, 9-2 Tom Boonen, 11-2 Daniele Bennati, 13-2 Thor Hushovd, 14-1 Tyler Farrar, 16-1 Heinrich Haussler, 25-1 Bar
King of the Mountains
11-8 David Moncoutie, 4-1 Alberto Contador, 13-2 Andy Schleck, 9-1 Christophe Moreau, 10-1 Frank Schleck, 12-1 Carlos Sastre, Robert Gesink, 16-1 Sylvain Chavanel, 20-1 Bar
White Jersey (Best young rider)
2-5 Andy Schleck, 4-1 Roman Kreuziger, 5-1 Robert Gesink, 14-1 Tony Martin, 16-1 Vincenzo Nibali, 28-1 Thomas Dekker, 33-1 Chris Anker Sorensen, Dan Martin, 66-1 Bar
Team Classification
4-11 Astana, 4-1 Team Saxo Bank, 7-1 Rabobank, 14-1 Liquigas, 16-1 Team Columbia-High Road