Tour de France: Stage two predictions, preview and cycling betting tips

Free cycling tips, best bets and analysis for stage two of the 2022 Tour de France

Where to watch

Stage two
Eurosport & ITV4, 11.30am Saturday

Best bet

Caleb Ewan to win stage two
2pts each-way 8-1 general

Stage two preview

Yves Lampaert was a surprise winner of the first yellow jersey of this year's Tour de France with victory in a treacherous opening time-trial around the rain-soaked streets of Copenhagen.

The Quick-Step rider, who had been a 100-1 shot with bet365 prior to the stage, took advantage of drying conditions as the stage wore on to edge out Wout van Aert by five seconds.

It's advantage Tadej Pogacar in the early general-classification exchanges after the Slovenian, who is chasing a third straight Tour win, finished eight and nine seconds ahead of Jumbo-Visma pair Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic respectively.

Stage two looks all-but certain to end in a sprint finish as the peloton race along the Danish coast from Roskilde to Nyborg.

Indeed, the only potential spanner in the works is the threat of winds splitting the peloton, especially on the 18km-long Great Belt crossing connecting the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen at the end of the stage. Although with fewer chances for the sprinters this year, teams will be on high alert.

Racing Post Sport's Tour de France outright preview

Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen, who has been chosen ahead of Mark Cavendish by their Quick-Step team, is the favourite after a strong season but there are a number of classy speedsters in opposition this year.

Caleb Ewan would be much shorter than 8-1 had he not abandoned the Giro d'Italia after a heavy crash on stage one, but he returned to finish a narrow second to Jakobsen at Elfstedenronde Brugge three weeks ago and looks excellent each-way value.

The Australian is one of the premier sprinters in world cycling and is already a five-time stage winner at the Tour.

If the wind does pick up and echelons begin to form then don't discount Britain's superstar all-rounder Tom Pidcock at 80-1 if he is involved at the finish.

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport