Britain’s betting on Bradley to cycle to Tour De France victory

BRADLEY WIGGINS is being heavily backed by punters to win this year’s Tour de France, according to Ladbrokes.

Wiggins’s positioned himself as the clear 5/4 favourite heading into Saturday’s first stage in Liege, and one punter is that convinced he’ll become to first Brit to win Le Tour by staking £10,000 on Wiggins to be crowned victorious.

As one half of Team Sky’s leading duo, Wiggins is odds-on at 4/9 to wear the yellow jersey with team-mate Mark Cavendish an 8/13 shot to pull on the green one – the double on them both winning their respective jerseys comes in at 15/2.

Cadel Evans is chalked up as second favourite in the outright market at 11/5, however it’s quite a way down the betting before finding Vincenzo Nibali at 18/1and Denis Menchov at 20/1.

Fabian Cancellara leads the way at 7/4 to pick up the first stage win, however punters are only interested in Wiggins at 5/1.

Wiggins has also been heavily backed to win this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in anticipation of a successful Tour and Olympics, where he’s 7/2 to win gold in the time trial.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: “There’s a huge amount of pressure on Wiggins but as far as punters are concerned he’s got this year’s Tour in the bag. Even though we’ll be left empty handed it won’t stop us cheering him on to become the first Brit to win the prestigious event.”

She added: “Since Schleck’s withdrawal it’s become a two-horse race between Wiggins and Evans and we’ve barely laid a penny on anyone else in the outright market.”

Ladbrokes latest betting

Tour de France winner 2012
Bradley Wiggins 5/4
Cadel Evans 11/5
Vincenzo Nibali 18/1
Denis Menchov 20/1
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 22/1
Samuel Sanchez 25/1
Robert Gesink 25/1
Christopher Froome 28/1
Frank Schleck 33/1
Ryder Hesjedal 40/1
Alejandro Valverde 50/1
Pierre Rolland 50/1
Janiz Brajkovic 66/1
Andreas Klöden 66/1
Tony Martin 66/1
Levi Leipheimer 80/1
Peter Velits 100/1

Stage 1 winner
Fabian Cancellara 7/4
Tony Martin 9/2
Bradley Wiggins 5/1
Peter Sagan 6/1
25/1 bar

Specials

Wiggins to wear the Yellow Jersey 4/9
Cavendish to wear the Green Jersey 8/13
Wiggins to win the Yellow Jersey and Cavendish to win the Green Jersey 15/2
Bradley Wiggins to win 2012 BBC SPOTY 4/1