The Tour de France 2020 is just weeks away with the best riders in the world converging on Europe for the biggest cycling race. Speculation has increased over which rider will claim the Tour de France 2020 crown as the event nears. This year’s race will be one of the most unique in its 117-year history due to the coronavirus that caused the Tour to be pushed back to August and September. A lack of preparation races in the build-up to the event could see an unlikely winner take the podium at the end of the Tour. Cycling fans are discussing which top rider will take the win this year. Fans can use the sports interaction bonus to wager on the rider they believe will win prior to the race’s start in Nice.
Which rider will claim the Tour de France 2020 crown? As the build-up continue, here is a look at the top-five favourites to win the event.
Egan Bernal – Team INEOS
Colombia’s Egan Bernal claimed the 2019 Tour title becoming the first rider from South American to win the race. Now 23, Bernal heads back to the Tour de France as the odds on favourite according to leading sportsbooks. A lack of preparation races could be an issue for Bernal. Add in the issues behind the scenes at Team INEOS and Bernal could end up struggling to repeat his win from last year.
Primož Roglič– Team Jumbo–Visma
PrimožRoglič won individual stages on the Tour de France in 2017 and 2018, but can he win the complete event in 2020? A strong rider, Roglič is brilliant at individual stages. He struggles to put the full multi-stage race together and claim wins, however. In June 2020, Roglič got his season off to a good start, which may end up benefitting him at the Tour de France in August and September. Roglič won the Slovenian national road championships ahead of Tadej Pogacar.
Chris Froome – Team INEOS
British rider Chris Froome goes into his last Tour de France as a Team INEOS rider and will expect to challenge teammate Bernal for the crown. Problem is, Team INEOS may favour Bernal to win the race rather than Froome. Team INEOS’s own technical director has publicly doubted Froome can win the Tour de France this year.
Geraint Thomas – Team INEOS
Team INEOS head into the Tour de France with three riders capable of winning the race. Geraint Thomas won the 2018 Tour de France and despite being in his mid-30s will hope to get another Tour win under his belt. The politics of Team INEOS may stop that from happening with both Bernal and Froome also riding.
Thibaut Pinot – Groupama–FDJ
French rider Thibaut Pinot has claimed three individual stage wins at the Tour de France in 2012, 2015, and 2019. He could claim an individual stage once again in 2020, but the real question is, can Pinot be consistent and win the full Tour de France? Like the riders in the Tour, there will be a lack of prep time for Pinot. The Frenchman claimed he believed he would win the 2019 Tour de France, but abandoned the race two days from the end.
