Tour de France Preview: Betting Tips & Cyclists to Watch

Cycling's greatest race returns for twenty-one stages across France. We break down the route phase by phase, revisit the last ten winners of every classification, from the Yellow Jersey to the Polka Dot, and profile the riders set to light it up.
Tour de France Preview: Betting Tips & Cyclists to Watch
Andy Powell
Andy Powell Expert Guide

You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.

2027 Tour de France

The 2027 Tour de France is scheduled to begin on July 2nd, 2027, with a total of 21 stages, and will run through the final stage on July 25th, 2027.

This will be the 114th edition of the Tour de France, and this tour will start in the UK for the opening three stages, with the Grand Départ being from Edinburgh.

The stages will go from Edinburgh to Carlisle, then Keswick to Liverpool and finally from Welshpool to Cardiff before moving over to France.

This will be the third time the Tour de France Grands Départ has been in the UK; in 2007 the tour started in London and in 2014 it started in Leeds.

There are several markets available during the TdF, most of which go to individual riders, with the 'Yellow Jersey' being the main one, as this is the overall winner of the tour.

Is the Tour de France on TV?

Yes, you can watch the action unfold live on Eurosport over the three weeks.

How many kilometres is the Tour de France?

The 2026 Tour de France was a total of 3,333 km, and the 2027 is expected to be similar once the route is announced.

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2027 Tour de France Predictions

We have some great cycling tipsters on OLBG who will be able to help you during the tour with predictions. To see which rider they are tipping to win the Tour de France, head over to the main Tour de France Betting Tips page.

There will be markets available on each day of the tour where the cycling tipsters will be predicting which rider will win each stage, as well as match betting where they will be predicting which of the two selected riders will finish highest on the stage. You will find all of those on the main Cycling Betting Tips page.

You can also see cycling picks from the best tipsters. On the Best Cycling Tipsters page, we only display tipsters who have made a profit over the past year for their cycling tips. Only tipsters with open tips will be displayed on this page.

If you think you know your cycling and are not part of the tipster competition, then why not join and start adding your TdF2027 tips, see if you can challenge the tipsters and claim the top spot in the cycling table and pick up a cash reward!

2026 Tour de France Route - Phase 1 Recap

The 2026 Tour de France started with the returning Team time trial, which took place in Barcelona. The tour began with nine stages before the riders got to their first rest day, which took place in Cantal on Monday, the 13th of July. The first nine stages covered a total of 1,461.7 km.

StageRouteWinner
Stage 1
Saturday (4 Jul)
Barcelona (Spain)
Team time trial (19.7 km)
Visma–Lease a Bike
Stage 2
Sunday (5 Jul)
Tarragona (Spain) to Barcelona (Spain)
Hilly stage (178 km)
Isaac del Toro (MEX)
Stage 3
Monday (6 Jul)
Granollers (Spain) to Les Angles
Mountain stage (196 km)
Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Stage 4
Tuesday (7 Jul)
Carcassonne to Foix
Hilly stage (182 km)
Mads Pedersen (DEN)
Stage 5
Wednesday (8 Jul)
Lannemezan to Pau
Flat stage (158 km)
Olav Kooij (NED)
Stage 6
Thursday (9 Jul)
Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre
Mountain stage (186 km)
Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Stage 7
Friday (10 Jul)
Hagetmau to Bordeaux
Flat stage (175 km)
Tim Merlier (BEL)
Stage 8
Saturday (11 Jul)
Périgueux to Bergerac
Flat stage (182 km)
Tim Merlier (BEL)
Stage 9
Sunday (12 Jul)
Malemort to Ussel
Hilly stage (185 km)
Mathieu van der Poel (NED)
Monday (13 Jul)Rest Day

2026 Tour de France Route - Phase 2 Recap

Following their first rest day, the riders picked up on the second phase of the tour, starting at stage 10 in Aurillac. This was a tough phase with three mountain stages. The riders covered six stages before their final rest day in Haute-Savoie; they covered 1,053 km during this phase.

StageRouteWinner
Stage 10
Tuesday (14 Jul)
Aurillac to Le Lioran
Mountain stage (167 km)
Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Stage 11
Wednesday (15 Jul)
Vichy to Nevers
Flat stage (161 km)
Søren Wærenskjold (NOR)
Stage 12
Thursday (16 Jul)
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saône
Flat stage (181 km)
Tim Merlier (BEL)
Stage 13
Friday (17 Jul)
Dole to Belfort
Hilly stage (205 km)
Mauro Schmid (SUI)
Stage 14
Saturday (18 Jul)
Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering
Mountain stage (155 km)
Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Stage 15
Sunday (19 Jul)
Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison
Mountain stage (184 km)
Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
Monday (20 Jul)Rest Day

2026 Tour de France Route - Phase 3 Recap

The riders knew that there were just six stages between them and the end of the Tour de France, the final stage of the 2026 TdF being a flat stage from Thoiry to Paris (Champs-Élysées). These six stages were 815 km, meaning the total distance for the 2026 Tour de France was 3,333 km.

StageRouteWinner
Stage 16
Tuesday (21 Jul)
Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains
Individual time trial (26 km)
Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
Stage 17
Wednesday (22 Jul)
Chambéry to Voiron
Flat stage (175 km)
Jasper Philipsen (BEL)
Stage 18
Thursday (23 Jul)
Voiron to Orcières-Merlette
Mountain stage (185 km)
Richard Carapaz (ECU)
Stage 19
Friday (24 Jul)
Gap to Alpe d'Huez
Mountain stage (128 km)
Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Stage 20
Saturday (25 Jul)
Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez
Mountain stage (171 km)
Richard Carapaz (ECU)
Stage 21
Sunday (26 Jul)
Thoiry to Paris (Champs-Élysées)
Flat stage (130 km)
Mathieu van der Poel (NED)

Tour de France General Classification

The 'Yellow Jersey' is worn by the rider on each stage who is leading the general classification. The rider who finishes at the top of the general classification will be declared the winner of the Tour de France, so this is the most important classification of the lot!

During the last tour, there were a total of just three riders who wore the yellow jersey, one less than the previous two years. The French have had great success with a total of 729 yellow jerseys, which is well clear of their nearest rival, Belgium, who have 440, who in turn are also clear of the next, Italy, with 212. Spain (135) and Great Britain (108) are the only other countries with over one hundred yellow jerseys.

Belgian Eddy Merckx holds the record for yellow jerseys with 96, some twenty-one clear of the next rider, Bernard Hinault, who has 75. Of those who are still riding, it is five-time TdF winner Tadej Pogačar who, not surprisingly, leads the way with 71; he is now forty-one clear of the next, which is Jonas Vingegaard, who has 29.

Following his win in 2026, Tadej Pogačar has now joined the elite list of riders to have won the Tour de France five times along with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault & Miguel Induráin. Could he become the most successful ever TdF rider in 2027?

Last Ten Tour de France Winners

YearWinnerTimeStage Wins
2026Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates XRG
73h 56′ 26″
+ 6′ 26″
5
2025Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates XRG
76h 00′ 32″
+ 4′ 24″
4
2024Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates
83h 38' 56"
+ 6' 17"
6
2023Jonas Vingegaard
Team Jumbo–Visma
82h 05' 42"
+ 7' 29"
1
2022Jonas Vingegaard
Team Jumbo–Visma
79h 32' 29"
+ 2' 43"
2
2021Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates
82h 56' 36"
+ 5' 20"
3
2020Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates
87h 20' 13"
+ 59"
3
2019Egan Bernal
Team Ineos
82h 57' 00"
+ 1' 11"
0
2018Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
83h 17' 13"
+ 1' 51"
2
2017Chris Froome
Team Sky
86h 20' 55"
+ 54"
0

Tour de France Points Classification

Riders are awarded points for each stage depending on their finishing position, which is tallied up at the end of the tour to declare the winner of the points classification.

Because of the way the points are set up, it is more often than not a sprinter who is favoured because more points are awarded on the 'Flat' stages than the other stages. The winner of the 'Flat' stage is awarded fifty points compared to thirty (Hilly) and twenty (Mountain).

The top fifteen riders from each stage are awarded points ranging from fifty down to just one, depending on the type of stage and their finishing position. Riders can also be penalised for infractions of the rules, which can result in some riders ending a stage with a negative points tally!

Slovakian Peter Sagan is the most successful in this category, winning it seven times between 2012 and 2019. He is one ahead of German Erik Zabel and two ahead of Irishman Sean Kelly.

Last Ten Points Classification Winners

YearWinnerRunner-Up
2026Mads Pedersen (DEN) (559)Jasper Philipsen (BEL) (475)
2025Jonathan Milan (ITA) (372)Tadej Pogačar (SLO) (294)
2024Biniam Ghirmay (ERI) (387)Jasper Philipsen (BEL) (354)
2023Jasper Philipsen (BEL) (377)Mads Pedersen (DEN) (258)
2022Wout van Aert (BEL) (480)Jasper Philipsen (BEL) (286)
2021Mark Cavendish (GBR) (337)Michael Matthews (AUS) (291)
2020Sam Bennett (IRL) (380)Peter Sagan (SVK) (284)
2019Peter Sagan (SVK) (316)Caleb Ewan (AUS) (248)
2018Peter Sagan (SVK) (477)Alexander Kristoff (NOR) (246)
2017Michael Matthews (AUS) (370)André Greipel (GER) (234)

Tour de France King of the Mountains

The 'Polka Dot Jersey' is awarded to the leader of the King of the Mountains, meaning they wear the white jersey, which has red polka dots!

Created in 1933, the riders are awarded points based on being first to the top of the mountain. This only features on the stages, which are a mountain stage and each mountain stage is put into a category; the harder the climb, the more points are awarded to those who get to the top first.

The French have a good record in this, winning it twenty-three times. Richard Virenque, recording seven of those victories, is the most successful rider in the King of the Mountain at the TdF, one clear of Spaniard Federico Bahamontes and Belgian Lucien Van Impe.

Last Ten King of the Mountain Winners

YearWinnerTeam
2026Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)EF Education–EasyPost
2025Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)UAE Team Emirates XRG
2024Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)EF Education–EasyPost
2023Giulio Ciccone (Italy)Lidl–Trek
2022Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark)Team Jumbo–Visma
2021Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)UAE Team Emirates
2020Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)UAE Team Emirates
2019Romain Bardet (France)AG2R La Mondiale
2018Julian Alaphilippe (France)Quick-Step Floors
2017Warren Barguil (France)Team Sunweb

Tour de France Young Rider Classification

This was created in 1975 and is awarded to the 'Young Rider' who comes out best in the general classification; the determination of a 'Young Rider' has changed over the years.

It used to be a certain age limit or a certain number of years as a pro; as things stand, riders who are aged no older than twenty-five years old are eligible for the award, with the leading rider wearing the 'White Jersey' during the tour.

French riders have picked up this award eight times, the most of any country, with them three ahead of both the Netherlands and Spain, but they have not won it since 2018 when Pierre Latour was awarded it.

Tadej Pogačar is the most successful 'Young Rider', having won the award at four consecutive Tours between 2020 and 2023. The next best are Jan Ullrich (1996-98) and Andy Schleck (2008-10), who both won it for three consecutive Tours.

Last Ten Young Rider Classification Winners

YearWinnerTeamGC
2026Isaac del Toro (MEX)UAE Team Emirates XRG
3
2025Florian Lipowitz (GER)Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe3
2024Remco Evenepoel (BEL)Soudal–Quick-Step3
2023Tadej Pogačar (SLO)UAE Team Emirates2
2022Tadej Pogačar (SLO)UAE Team Emirates2
2021Tadej Pogačar (SLO)UAE Team Emirates1
2020Tadej Pogačar (SLO)UAE Team Emirates1
2019Egan Bernal (COL)Team Ineos1
2018Pierre Latour (FRA)AG2R La Mondiale13
2017Simon Yates (GBR)Orica–Scott7

Tour de France Team Classification

As it says on the tin, the team classification is awarded to the best-performing team on the tour, first awarded in 1930. It is based on the general classification of each team member, and whilst the current leaders do not wear a certain coloured jersey, the background of the rider numbers will be yellow instead of white.

Last Ten Team Classification Winners

YearWinner
2026Lidl–Trek (Germany)
2025Visma–Lease a Bike (Netherlands)
2024UAE Team Emirates (U.A.E)
2023Team Jumbo–Visma (Netherlands)
2022Ineos Grenadiers (UK)
2021Team Bahrain Victorious (Bahrain)
2020Movistar Team (Spain)
2019Movistar Team (Spain)
2018Movistar Team (Spain)
2017Team Sky (UK)

Tour de France Super Combativity Award

This award is not determined by points scored or GC position; the award winner is picked by a jury who believes they have been the most Combative, meaning the rider who has been 'eager to fight or contend', which means the award usually goes to a rider who has an attacking attitude to be involved in the breakaways.

Last Ten Super Combativity Award Winners

YearWinnerTeam
2026Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)
EF Education–EasyPost
2025Ben Healy (Ireland)EF Education–EasyPost
2024Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)EF Education–EasyPost
2023Victor Campenaerts (Belgium)Lotto–Dstny
2022Wout van Aert (Belgium)Team Jumbo–Visma
2021Franck Bonnamour (France)B&B Hotels p/b KTM
2020Marc Hirschi (Switzerland)Team Sunweb
2019Julian Alaphilippe (France)Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2018Dan Martin (Ireland)UAE Team Emirates
2017Warren Barguil (France)Team Sunweb

Tour de France Femmes

The women's (Femmes) version of the Tour de France was introduced in 2022 and takes place in July of each year, starting as the men's race is in its final couple of stages.

The tour is much shorter than the men's version; whilst there are 21 stages in that, for the women's version, in 2025, there were only 9 stages, which are raced over 9 consecutive days with no rest days.

The 2024 tour started in the Netherlands (Rotterdam), and the 2026 tour will start in Switzerland (Lausanne), whilst the 2027 tour could start in the UK, although where in the UK is yet to be announced.

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes will run from the 1st August through to the 9th; the first three stages will all start in Switzerland before moving into France, with the Tour ending in Nice.

Previous Tour de France Femmes Winners

The Dutch have been fairly successful, winning both the 2022 & 2023 tours. Going into the 2026 tour, they had a total of 17 stage wins from 33, meaning over half of the stages had been won by a Dutch rider.

YearRiderTeam
2025Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA)Visma–Lease a Bike
2024Kasia Niewiadoma (POL)Canyon–SRAM
2023Demi Vollering (NED)SD Worx
2022Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)Movistar Team

Previous Points & QoTM Winners

Like the men's race, there are also other awards at the end of the tour, which include the Points Classification, where points are awarded based on stages and the Queen of the Mountain, which is awarded based on performances, as the name suggests, on the mountain stages.

YearPoints ClassificationQueen of the Mountain
2025Lorena Wiebes (NED)Elise Chabbey (SUI)
2024Marianne Vos (NED)Justine Ghekiere (BEL)
2023Lotte Kopecky (BEL)Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL)
2022Marianne Vos (NED)Demi Vollering (NED)

Article Contributor Information

The Tour de France content on OLBG has been created and maintained by Andy Powell, who, through the creation of the content, developed an understanding of the sport.

Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Expert Guide

With a keen eye on the cycling world, Andy provides in-depth analysis, race previews, and comprehensive coverage of cycling events. Andy's contributions establish OLBG as a premier destination for cycling enthusiasts seeking insights and comprehensive coverage.

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