I recently referred to the Tour de France as the Tour de Farce and that name may well stick following recent stages. There are many ways to lose your money to the bookmakers but I think yesterday’s stage caps them all. One rider has been disqualified and thrown out of the race for, of all things, head butting a fellow rider. It makes for good television – two riders, side by side, with one trying to head butt the other. If you backed that rider at all, you’ve done your dough cold.

Still, the Tour de Farce, I mean Tour de France, continues and they are well into the mountain stages now. Alberto Contodor still leads the betting at 8/15, his price has remained unchanged since the event started. Andy Schleck has firmed considerably to just under 2/1, although if shop around you can still back him at 9/5 with one or two online bookmakers.

In King of the Mountains betting, Jerome Pineau is favoured at 3/1 just ahead of Anthony Charteau at 7/2 and Andy Schleck at 7/1. Charteau has been the biggest mover in betting coming in from an opening quote of over 10/1. He has been racing well and may challenge Pineau for favouritism before the weekend is over.

If you are looking for good value on the King of the Mountain betting, BetClic is offering slightly longer odds of 7/2 for Pineau and 4/1 for Charteau. Schleck is slightly shorter, however, at only 11/2.

Many of the top contenders have now fallen away – most through injury, which has been unfortunate for most punters. The riders that have avoided problems are now capitalising but, in reality, the race has been almost gifted to either Contodor or Schleck. If either one can gain a decent time break it will be all over. At this stage Schleck looks good, especially if he continues to perform well over the mountains. He’s certainly the best value rider at this stage.