Tour De France Stage 8 predictions, betting tips, odds and free bets (July 9, 2016)

Saturday, 09 July 2016 09:30
Written by David Bet

Stage 8 of Tour de France 2016 takes place in the Pyrenees on Saturday and will see the peloton undertake four categorised climbs on their 184 kilometre trek from Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Don't miss our Tour De France STAGE 8 betting preview including best odds, free predictions on Winner and Head to Head, exclusive betting promotions & no deposit free bets on the TDF!

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TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 8 BETTING PREVIEW

After 67km of racing, the riders will contest the intermediate sprint which is slightly uphill at an average of 3.1% for the final kilometre. Right after the sprint, they will turn east to head up the hardest climb in the Pyrenees, the legendary category HC mountain of Col du Tourmalet.

Following a drop, which is as long as the ascent, comes the Hourquette d’Ancizan – 22 kilometres at 4% with a steepest section at 12.2%. Col de Val Louron is the next hurdle – 7.4 kilometres at 8.3% with maximum grades at 13%.

The Peyresourde starts with 25 kilometres to go and after 18 kilometres of climbing – at an average grade of 4.9% and a maximum grade of 11.7% – the summit is crested with 14.5 kilometres left to race. It will offer a launching pad for the main favourites to get a gap before a not technical descent.

Stage winner favourites

Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana are the best climbers in the peloton. Anyway, they will control each other in a very tactical game and this could give other riders a chance to not to lose time on the Pereysourde

Alejandro Valverde and Daniel Martin are among those riders that could arrive at the summit of the final ascent with the GC contenders. Unfortunately, the descent is too easy to make a gap but they are fast enough to win a small group sprint. Unless Julian Alaphilippe has survived all the four climbs -which is unlikely - no one is going to beat this duo in a sprint.

Romain Bardet could test the waters at the top of the penultimate climb to set himself up for an attack on the descent, heading into the final climb.

Adam Yates has the explosiveness to make a late attack, is a good descender and is fast in a sprint. His strong attack on Friday's stage was ruined by the collapse of the inflatable but he has shown his form is good.

Alberto Contador, Thibaut Pinot, Vincenzo Nibali and Warren Barguil who all showed signs of weakness in Massif Central.

Dark horses?

Joaquim Rodriguez is an outstanding climber and seems to be in pretty good form. He will not be controlled by the top GC contenders and this could be a huge advantage.

Other possible stage winners are Pierre Rolland, Rafal Majka, Ilnur Zakarin and Richie Porte while Steve Cummings will be surely tired and satisfied after his success on Friday.

Which rider in case of a winning breakaway?

In stage 5 Tom Dumoulin, Mikel Landa, Rui Costa and Tony Gallopin lost so much time and no one will bother if they break clear early on. Riders like Serge Pauwels, Jarlinson Pantano, Ion Izaguirre and Winner Anacona would be happy to be in the break, too.

Rui Costa won two stages in the 2013 Tour De France and he has always been a master in winning from breakaways.

Ruben Plaza didn’t make it into the breakaway yesterday and could have been save energy for this stage.

Thomas Voeckler has won at Bagneres-de-Luchon on more occasions and even though he is no longer the rider he once was, he is still very strong