Tour contenders worth betting on

Online betting agency Unibet.com has installed Rabobank's Robert Gesink as a likely Tour de France stage winner and a possible top 10 finisher overall, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf.

The 20th stage, from Montélimar to the peak of the famed Mont Ventoux, is billed as suiting the lanky Dutch climber. Team-mate and countryman Stef Clement will be helping Gesink throughout the race, which should enhance his chances of taking a stage win.

Bookmakers say that the probability that a Dutchman winning overall is small, with a 50-1 return on a bet that this will happen. Needless to say it's a brave punter that puts money on this eventuality.

Alberto Contador is the bookmakers' overall favourite, followed by team-mate and seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong and Saxo Bank rider Andy Schleck. Mark Cavendish is the favorite to take the green jersey while the odds point towards a French winner of the mountain classification.