PLACE YOUR BETS...
The bookmakers don?t waste much time when it comes to offering people the chance to lighten their wallets - but within an hour of the Tour de France route being announced, gambling website Unibet.com had already made Alberto Contador the favourite, ahead of Cadel Evans.
A no-brainer perhaps given they were the first two in the 2007 race.
And, with the rules of participation not yet confirmed by ASO - and the possibility that one or two may be caught with their hands in the naughty jar before July - it would take a brave punter to risk their cash today.
A bet on Michael Rasmussen at 17s looks about as wise as taking out a tenner and cutting it into thin strips.
OPENING ODDS
Alberto Contador 4.00
Cadel Evans 6.00
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Andreas Kloden 9.00
Denis Menchov 11.00
Levi Leipheimer 12.00
Alejandro Valverde 15.00
Michael Rasmussen 17.00
Carlos Sastre 20.00
Michael Rogers 20.00
Andy Schleck 20.00
Full odds on unibet.com
RELATED LINKS
Tour 008: The instant reaction
Tour 2008: Stage list and map
Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.