Cavendish can get better of bashed-up Ewan

What’s the stage like?

Mostly flat, coming in at 201km, this can be a day for the quick males.

There’s a fourth class climb 13km from the end that should not trigger the sprinters too many issues, however their groups should be alive to an opportunistic late breakaway effort. Assuming any of these makes an attempt can be managed, there must be no excuses: an arcing, right-hand sweep to the end makes the final 5km a simple affair. The greatest sprinter ought to win.

Who are the favourites?

On current kind, that “best sprinter” might be Caleb Ewan (3.002/1), who has picked up 5 victories this 12 months already, most notably on the Tour of Turkey, the place he stored the world’s greatest behind him throughout two stage victories. There are causes to be somewhat nervous of his possibilities, although. Whilst he is racked up some wins, he is additionally bombed on a number of events the place he should not have. And his crashing fall on Stage 1 can’t have improved his confidence.

Which signifies that Mark Cavendish (3.259/4) can in all probability declare the mantle of high canine. His three victories to this point this season present he has misplaced nothing of his 2021 Tour de France revival kind, making him the one to beat.

Who are the more than likely outsiders?

The subject is stacked, nonetheless.

A sound case can be made for Fernando Gaviria (14.0013/1), Giacomo Nizzolo (18.0017/1), Arnaud Demare (12.0011/1), Phil Bauhaus (15.0014/1) and Cees Bol (80.0079/1) – all of whom have traded locations at numerous factors throughout the season with the market leaders. Of these riders, Gaviria is essentially the most attention-grabbing. The winner of 4 phases on the Giro in 2017, he is had a fallow few seasons however appears to be returning to one thing approaching his peak. He was sturdy within the Tour of Oman in February and, maybe crucially, will possible deal with the late-on climb better than most of his rivals.

If a rider can pull off the late breakaway, it should possible be Diego Ulissi (200.00199/1). This course is a close to copy of the Stage 13 that he gained in 2020. The dash groups must be conscious sufficient of the chance to stop any such transfer, although.

What impact will it have on the general markets?

It’s one other day to relaxation simple on our pre-race bets for the General Classification. Short of calamity befalling one of the primary contenders, little of be aware ought to have an effect on them.

*Odds right on the time of writing