Tour de France: Stage Two predictions and free tips

Best bet

Warren Barguil
1pt each-way 66-1 bet365, Betway

Stage Two preview

Norway's Alexander Kristoff won a sprint finish to take the yellow jersey on an action-packed first day of the 2020 Tour de France in Nice.

Rain made for treacherous conditions and the curtain-raiser was peppered with riders crashing to the ground, including some notable names such as Julian Alaphilippe, Nairo Quintana, Thibaut Pinot, Ineos rider Pavel Sivakov and sprinter Caleb Ewan, a popular pick to win the stage.

All of the riders involved in a pile-up less than 3km from the finish, or held up by it, were given the same time as the winner.

Stage two looks tailor-made for a home triumph and France's most exciting rider Alaphilippe heads the betting.

Alaphilippe captured the imagination of the whole of his nation last year as he gallantly staged an unlikely bid for the yellow jersey.

He fell short in that endeavour but he is a former King of the Mountains winner so has excellent climbing credentials despite specialising in the classics.

The 28-year-old will need that with two category-one ascents to tackle, but his descending skills may be more pertinent with a nine-kilomtre drag race down the Quatre Chemins set to decide matters.

Alaphilippe is a worthy favourite after a decent showing at this month's Dauphine and third in the French National Championships a week ago.

However, his compatriot Warren Barguil offers much better value at big prices if he can rediscover his 2017 form.

Barguil is also a former polka-dot jersey winner and was the French champion in 2019.

He was extremely consistent at the Dauphine, finishing inside the top 25 on each stage, and is another daredevil descender.

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