The Tour de France continues on Sunday with Stage Nine, and the 208km route from Issoire to Saint-Flour is the riders’ final leg before their rest day.
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Alberto Contador and Samuel Sanchez, yesterday's picks, looked as good as anyone going up Super Besse yesterday. Unfortunately, one of the stage's early escapees, Rui Costa, survived the splintering of the breakaway and finished 15 seconds clear of the group containing all of the serious GC contenders.
Philippe Gilbert was second, improving his green-jersey prospects considerably. Our man is now the favourite and, after backing him at 4.4, we have the option to lay him for profit. The Belgian is the jolly for today's stage, however, and, if he wins, his price will shorten some more.
The ride from Issoire to the hilltop town of St Flour is up and down and up and down and up and down. And then up for the final kilometre, which suits Gilbert well. He has the motivation (the green jersey) to ride harder than ever before in a grand tour and the talent to stay with the GC contenders, who - like on the previous stage - will ignore him if he attacks on the final climb.
A breakaway from much further out looks the most likely way he will lose the stage, not least because Monday is a rest day and any escapees will get an extra 24 hours' recovery time. Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel (48.0) would be an obvious candidate, but he has been riding weakly since crashing on stage five.
Thomas Voeckler must never be discounted, but this time he is the second favourite (16.5) and might be targeting Tuesday's less lumpy stage for his next audacious attack.
Rigoberto Uran is Sky's best climber and, in the aftermath of Bradley Wiggins' unfortunate demise, he is free from super-domestique duties and today might be the day he launches his bid for the consolation title of King of the Mountains.
The five wildcard teams, who need to show race organisers they deserve their place, have been involved in a lot of the breakaways so far. Francaise des Jeux have had four riders escape the peloton without success. Next in line to have a go is probably Sandy Casar, winner of a tough Alpine stage in last year's Tour.
Recommendations
Best Bet: Back Rigoberto Uran @ 46.0 to be Stage 9 Winner
Recommended Bet: Back Sandy Casar @ 60.0 to be Stage 9 Winner
