Egan Bernal Has Become 2019 Tour De France Favorite in Latest Odds Update, Surging Past Teammate Geraint Thomas

• Sportsbooks have installed Egan Bernal as the 2019 Tour de France favorite
• Bernal just overtook teammate and defending champion Geraint Thomas
• Why is the young Colombian rising up the odds?

No South American rider has ever won the Tour de France, but sportsbooks are of the opinion that this slump will come to an end in 2019. They’ve installed 22-year-old Colombian Egan Bernal as the betting favorite to win this year’s race (Jul. 6th-28th).

Defending champion Geraint Thomas of Wales, Bernal’s teammate at Team Ineos, had been favored to defend his title up until the release of these latest odds.

2019 Tour de France Odds

*Odds taken on 07/03/19. Follow link for complete list.

Team Ineos (formerly Team Sky) riders have won the Tour de France for the last four years and in six of the last seven races.

Sharing The Spotlight

Generally, race teams designate a lead rider as the one that the rest of team is supposed to support in his bid for the Yellow Jersey. Last year, Bernal did the punishing work of setting a pace for Thomas and four-time Tour champ Chris Froome through the difficult mountain stages of the race.

.@GeraintThomas86 and @EganBernal will be joint leaders of @TeamINEOS for @LeTour. We're excited to reveal our lineup for #TDF2019: @Eganbernal 🇨🇴@jcastroviejo 🇪🇸@Kwiato 🇵🇱@GianniMoscon 🇮🇹@WoutPoels 🇳🇱@LukeRowe1990 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿@GeraintThomas86 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿@DylanvanBaarle 🇳🇱

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) June 28, 2019

The surprise announcement this week that Team Ineos would view Thomas and Bernal as co-leaders changes the dynamic of the team. Bernal, one of the top climbers in the sport, could easily leave Thomas behind as they grind through the mountains.

Doubting Thomas

The decision to go with co-leaders also shows that Team Ineos isn’t sold on the man they call “G” winning two in a row. Though no one will be able to take away his 2018 Tour win, endurance racing wasn’t viewed as Thomas’ forte. Before last year, he’d never finished better than 15th in a three-week Grand Tour.

Everything fell into place last year but the belief among cycling experts is that it was a one-off for Thomas. Many are predicting that he won’t crack the top 10 this year.

He crashed out of the Tour de Suisse. Though his injuries were minor, the loss of much-needed training miles could hinder Thomas in France.

It’s Bernal’s To Win

Froome broke several bones in a training crash last month and is out of the Tour. Likewise, Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, last year’s runner-up, is scratched after undergoing surgery following a crash of his own.

Thomas and Italian Vincenzo Nibali (2014) are the only past champions in the field.

We're still trying to work out how @Eganbernal managed to handle this! One of the more dramatic moments of the #TourdeSuisse! @tds @TeamINEOSpic.twitter.com/fA0lzWmOCq

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) June 25, 2019

The French race directors have bulked up the mountain portion of this year’s Tour. Many think it’s designed to benefit France’s Julian Alaphilippe, last year’s Polka Dot jersey winner as King of the Mountains. But it also plays right into Bernal’s strength. He comes here off a win in the Tour de Suisse.

Team Ineos sees it and the oddsmakers see it. Bernal is the best bet to win.