Julian Alaphilippe snatched the famed yellow jersey from Mike Teunissen in stage three of the Tour de France on Monday
The Frenchman, the first to win a stage since Tony Gallopin in 2014, did it with a furious late charge. It came at the end of the 215km ride from Binche to Epernay that concluded with a series of hills.
Alaphilippe went clear after the ascent of Cote de Mutigny then held off the peloton over the final 15km. He was 26 seconds clear of Michael Matthews when he hit the finish line.
As last year’s King of the Mountains, he now leads the general classification by 20 seconds. Wout van Aert is in second place. Teunissen, who led stage two by 10 seconds following Jumbo-Visma’s victory in the team time trial, is four minutes back.
Yet, despite these heroics and his new standings in the race, Alaphilippe was still relatively unrated by the New Jersey sportsbooks. Not all are carrying odds on the race right now, but Resorts Casino, for one, does not seem to see him as a threat.
Its online sportsbook on Tuesday still had Egan Bernal, a Colombian member of the INEOS team, as their favorite at +175. Welshman Geraint Thomas, last year’s Tour De France winner and co-leader of INEOS, is next at +225.
In Monday’s third stage, Thomas was 12th and lost 15 seconds. Bernal managed to finish five seconds better after finding a hole on the right side of the peloton at the finish.
Alaphilippe’s odds make him a very dangerous outsider
Alaphilippe meanwhile remains a long way down the list at +4800 (48/1). And this, if anything, makes him a very dangerous outsider indeed.
This is largely because he once again showed he is a lot more than just an outstanding climber. He showed with this performance he can win races on all types of terrain. He showed that he is one of the sport’s most exciting young riders.
Right now he looks an excellent bet to win his second successive King of the Mountains title. He’s also looking good for the Green Jersey for the points-classification crown.
Don’t be too surprised, either, if he’s right up there at the end fighting for the premier Tour de France title. With Chris Froome, England’s multi-titled Tour De France legend not in the race, his chances have never been better.
Bernal remains the favorite of most cycling authorities for the 2019 Tour de France crown, but its early days yet. There is still a long, long road ahead.
In the meantime, here are the official points classification standings after Stage 3. Below them, we give you of the odds on offer on the Resorts Casino sportsbook.
Top 10 in Points Classification standings after Stage 3
(See under headings: Rider; team; race time)
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick—Step) 04h 40′ 29”
- Michael Matthews(Team Sunweb) 04h 40′ 55”
- Jasper Stuyven Trek (Segafredo) 04h 40′ 55”
- Greg Van Avermaet (Ccc Team) 04h 40′ 55”
- Peter Sagan (Bora—Hansgrohe) 04h 40′ 55”
- Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) 04h 40′ 55”
- Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain—Merida) 04h 40′ 55”
- Xandro Meurisse (Wanty—Gobert) 04h 40′ 55”
- Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo—Visma) 04h 40′ 55”
- Thibaut Pinot (Groupama—Fdj) 04h 40′ 55”.
Note: There are a total of 178 riders still in the race.
TOP 15 OUTRIGHT FAVORITE TO WIN 2019 TOUR DE FRACE
Egan Bernal +175
Geraint Thomas +255
Jakob Fuglsang +900
Steven Kruijswijk+1150
Thibaut Pinot +1200
Adam Yates +1400
Nairo Quintana +1950
Vincenzo Nibali +2100
Rigoberto Uran +2200
Mikel Landa +2450
Enric Mas Nicolau +2700
Richie Porte +2700
Romain Bardet +3300
Julian Alaphilippe +4800
Alejandro Valverde +6600.
TOP FIVE IN YOUNG RIDER CLASSIFICATION
Egan Bernal -300
Enric Mas Nicolau +300
Tiesj Benoot +1350
David Gaudu +2150
Max Schachmann+3200.
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION
Julian Alaphilippe +165
Warren Barguil +525
Vincenzo Nibali +1350
Egan Bernal +1750.
TOUR DE FRANCE TEAM CLASSIFICATION
Movistar -145
Team Ineos +450
Astana +875
Team EF Education +1000
Groupama-FDJ +1150
Bora Hansgrohe +2800
Team Jumbo-Visma +3100
Bahrain Merida +3100
Ag2r +3200
UAE Team Emirates +4000.
