When it comes to cycling betting, the Tour de France is the pinnacle. Each year, there are billions of people who spectate the races, either on television or in person, making it by far the biggest cycling event in the world. Tour de France betting has also become increasingly popular as the sport gains traction, with a wide range of odds and markets for punters to choose from.

Here at Parimatch, we have comprehensive coverage of the event, keeping you in the loop with everything that has been happening on the Grand Tour. You can also find live Tour de France odds over on the in-play betting page!

The Tour de France spans 21 gruelling stages over 23 days, covering roughly 2,200 miles of French terrain. Riders pedal through flat roads, mountain passes, and time trials with only two rest days to recover from their efforts.

Each stage presents unique challenges, from sprint finishes on flat terrain to brutal climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees. Most stages take between four and six hours to complete, with the longest stages stretching beyond 120 miles. Since its beginning in 1903, the race has grown from a six-stage event to the massive three-week competition we see today.

How the Tour de France Works

Each of the 21 stages in the Tour de France has its own winner, but the overall champion is the cyclist with the lowest total time when all stages are added together.

Teams of eight riders work together to help their leader save energy and win the race with the peloton, or the main group of cyclists, creating a draft that lets riders use significantly less energy when compared to cycling alone. Riders must finish every stage to stay in the race, with the clock starting when the stage begins and stopping when each rider crosses the finish line.

Weather plays a huge role too, with rain, wind, and heat changing how the race unfolds each day. The stage format creates daily drama while building toward the final winner in Paris!

General Classification (Yellow Jersey)

After riders complete each stage, officials add up their times. This total creates the General Classification, which ranks cyclists from fastest to slowest across all stages so far.

The rider with the lowest combined time wears the famous Yellow Jersey, or "maillot jaune" in French. This bright yellow shirt stands out in the pack, making the leader easy to spot for fans and other riders alike.

Wearing the Yellow Jersey brings glory and pressure, meaning that the current leader must defend his position against attacks from rivals who want to steal precious seconds. Teams build their entire race strategy around either protecting their Yellow Jersey holder or trying to put their top rider in this coveted position.

The final Yellow Jersey winner in Paris has proven himself as the most complete cyclist, handling flat roads, mountains, and time trials better than anyone else in the race.

There are plenty of different Tour de France betting markets that can be found right here at Parimatch, with some of the most popular ones being:

• Outright Winner: As the name suggests, this Tour de France betting market involves picking the winner of the entire thing. This means that only the rider finishing in first place will matter for this particular market, and if the chosen rider finishes in any other position, the bet will be marked as a loss.
• Each Way: An each way bet is an extension of the outright winner wager. If players want to, they can double their stake size to cover second and third, too, with this portion of the wager being awarded at 1/4th of the odds, if successful. Keep in mind that only the each way portion of the bet will be awarded, should the chosen cyclist finish 2nd or 3rd.
• Top 3 Finish: With this Tour de France betting market, if the chosen cyclist finishes first, second, or third, this bet will be marked as a successful one and players will be awarded at the corresponding odds.
• Straight Forecast: A straight forecast of the Tour de France involves picking the cyclists who will finish in first and second place. This must be done in the correct order, too, in order for this bet to be marked as a successful one.
• Team Classification: In addition to racing for themselves, cyclists belong to different teams, with this betting market specifically focusing on which team will be victorious.
• Young Rider Classification: This Tour de France betting market involves picking the winner of the young rider classification, which is awarded to the cyclist who has the best time and is also under the age of 25.

In terms of previous winners, there are four cyclists who sit at the top of the event, each winning it a total of five times. These are Jacques Anquetil (France), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Bernard Hinault (France), and Miguel Indurain (Spain), all of whom have enjoyed periods of dominance between 1957 and 1995.

Here's a look at the most recent winners of the Tour de France from the latest decade of competition:

If you want to bet on the Tour de France online, Parimatch is the place to be. We have a huge range of cycling odds to choose from, including comprehensive coverage of the event from the in-play betting page, which allows you to wager on the action as it happens.

Before placing a bet on the Tour de France, be sure to check out the Parimatch offers page for a variety of different bonuses, too. Many of these bonus offers can be used across all sports betting markets, including on cycling, with options available for both new and existing customers!