Froome is a three-time champion at the Tour de France, winning in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He hasn’t fared too well on the circuit this year, recording a fourth-place finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné warm-up in early June. Froome won this event each year before taking down the big race. Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang was this year’s champion; he’s on the Tour de France oddsboard at +1400.
Porte placed second in Dauphiné, just 10 seconds behind Fuglsang, but he has yet to win the Tour de France – or any other major event on the circuit. However, the Tasmanian native did win the young rider classification in the 2010 Giro d’Italia, and he was briefly ranked No. 1 in the world last year after joining BMC Racing Team. Porte finished fifth at the 2016 Tour de France.
Cycling Odds: Can Froome Defend His Tour de France Crown?
Three-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome is the +125 favorite to defend his title starting this Saturday, but after placing fourth at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné warm-up event, does he still have the legs to win cycling’s biggest race?If not, Richie Porte (+180) is waiting in the wings. The pride of Tasmania is still searching for his breakthrough victory after winning the young rider classification in the 2010 Giro d’Italia; Porte was second at Dauphiné, 10 seconds behind Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang (+1400). Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador is also in the mix at +1400.