Aru takes yellow jersey as Froome falters at Tour de France

LE Tour de France 2017 has a new leader.

Romain Bardet was first across the line on stage 12, but it was Fabio Aru who claimed the yellow jersey.

Both riders are now well poised to challenge Chris Froome’s reign in the general classification.

The Brit fell away on a difficult finish into Peyragudes after 214km and no fewer than four mountain climbs.

“It was certainly tough for me in the final,” Froome told reporters.

“Our teammates did such an amazing job today, but I didn’t have the legs to finish it off — simple as that. No excuses.

?Revivez ce dernier km de folie / Relive this crazy last km.? #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/57nTQX1S7G

— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 13, 2017

“I just didn’t have the legs on the final kick. That’s a really, really hard finish.

“I can only say congratulations to Romain Bardet for winning the stage and also to Fabio Aru for taking the yellow jersey.

“The race is certainly on now. It’s going to be a big fight now all the way to Paris.”

Froome is still the outright favourite with online bookmakers, but his price has floated out to -125 at Sportsbet.com.au after coming as short as -333.33 this week.

Aru has firmed from +450 into +250, while Bardet has halved his price into +500.

2017 Tour de France outright betting

-125 – Chris Froome

+250 – Fabio Aru

+500 – Romain Bardet

+1200 – Rigoberto Uran

+5000 – Daniel Martin

+8000 – Mikel Landa

+12500 – Simon Yates

+25000 – George Bennett

+30000 – Nairo Quintana

+40000 – Louis Meintjes

+50000 – Damiano Caruso, Emanuel Buchmann, Bauke Mollema, Carlos Betancur, Sergio Henao, Warren Barguil, Mikel Nieve, Pierre Roger Latour, Alberto Contador

Market courtesy of Sportsbet

Martin and Barguil favoured for tough climb to Foix

Daniel Martin was spent by the time he reached the final sprint on Thursday.

“I was suffering all day,” he told the press.

“From the first kilometre my legs were empty and I had a really bad day.

“I expected to lose half an hour, to lose everything, so I’m really happy.

“The objective was to try and hang in. I mean, I could barely even get out of the saddle … normally that would be a great final for me.

“I rode it perfectly but I just I just didn’t have anything at the finish.”

Even though the Irishman is still sore as a result of Richie Porte’s horror crash on stage nine, Sportsbet has him pegged as the +1000 favourite to take out stage 13.

He shares that quote with France’s Warren Barguil, the current leader in the mountain classification.

The 101km ride to Foix might be the shortest leg of the Tour, but a trio of category one climbs makes it one of the toughest.

It looms as an excellent opportunity for Bardet and Froome (both +1600) to make up time on Aru, who is priced midfield at +3300 to win the stage.

Stage 13 betting: Saint-Girons/Foix

+1000 – Daniel Martin, Warren Barguil

+1200 – Rigoberto Uran

+1400 – Tiesj Benoot

+1600 – Romain Bardet, Chris Froome

+2000 – Lilian Calmejane

+2200 – Jarlinson Pantano, Primoz Roglic, Bauke Mollema

+2500 – Damiano Caruso, Thibaut Pinot, Serge Pauwels, Mikel Landa, Nicolas Roche

+3300 – Alexis Vuillermoz, Thomas De Gendt, Simon Yates, Tim Wellens, Pierre Rolland, Jan Bakelants, Tony Gallopin, Fabio Aru, Alessandro De Marchi, Stephen Cummings

More quoted at Sportsbet.com.au