Tour de France 2011 Betting Odds: Alberto Contador favourite for fourth win

PARIS, FRANCE - Alberto Contador justified 4/6 favouritism in this year`s Tour de France, and the bookmakers make the Spaniard the favourite to win next year`s edition of La Grande Boucle.

For many cycling fans, the 2011 Tour de France will be the first one in living memory to take place without Lance Armstrong in the field. Armstrong`s former Astana team-mate, Alberto Contador, has been installed as the even-money favourite (bet £100 to win £100 profit) by Irish bookie Paddy Power to win the great cycling race yet again next year.

Contador is given a greater than 50 per cent chance of winning by other bookies however, as Bet 365, Sky Bet, Stan James and Ladbrokes are all quoting the Spaniard at odds-on in the 2011 Tour de France betting market. Sky Bet offer the shortest odds about Contador winning again at 4/6, the same price that he started at this year with Coral. If Contador makes it to the start of the 2011 Tour on the back of a solid preparation in the Critérium du Dauphiné, he will almost certainly start as a hot favourite once again to wear the yellow jersey on the Champs-Élysées.

Andy Schleck is the second-favourite at 5/2 with Stan James as he seeks his first Tour win. Schleck finished runner-up to Contador by 39 seconds in this year`s edition, and proved with his white jersey win that he is the rider closest to Contador in terms of ability. The Luxembourg cyclist lost his chance when his chain slipped in Stage 15, but with better luck and more experience, he has every chance of defeating Contador next year.

Most punters will think that the Tour will once again be a two-horse race, but even so, the bookies are paying out three places on each-way bets. At this stage, the final podium position looks up for grabs, and Ivan Basso is considered by Sky Bet at 22/1. The dual winner of the Giro d`Italia let down his backers this year but has a strong team-mate in Roman Kreuziger, who is an 80/1 chance with Bet 365.

Denis Menchov came third this year behind the big two, and is at 33/1 with Paddy Power and Boylesports. Frank Schleck, brother of Andy, is 33/1 with Ladbrokes. Also at the same odds is Cadel Evans, who will have plenty of backers after putting in a good showing this year.

One of the biggest betting stories could be the return of Riccardo Riccò, who was banned in 2008 following allegations of doping. Riccò is the fourth favourite in Bet 365`s book at 14/1, but can be backed at a whopping 66/1 with Stan James.

Another Italian, Vincenzo Nibali, looks like a terrific each-way bet at 40/1 with Boylesports. `The Shark` came seventh in the 2009 Tour de France, but a displayed even better form this year by finishing third in the Giro and winning the Tour of Slovenia.

In other betting Mark Cavendish looks like a solid bet at evens (1/1) with William Hill to win the green jersey next year.

The 2011 Tour de France beings on Le Passage de Gois in the Vendée region on 2 July 2011 and finishes on the Champs-Élysées on July 24.

This article was written in July 2010, before Contador's doping saga. For a more up-to-date betting preview, please see here. Contador has been cleared to ride by the authorities and is best-priced at 4/6 with Ladbrokes to succesfully defend his title this summer.

Tour de France winner betting odds