2026 Tour de France odds, picks: SportsLine writer and cycling expert releases best bets for this year's race

Tadej Pogacar embarks on his quest for a record-tying fifth Tour de France title when the three-week stage race begins on Saturday with a team time trial in Barcelona. With a victory in this year's Tour, the 27-year-old Pogacar would join four of the sport's greats—Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain—as the only five-time Tour de France winners. Pogacar has been installed as the overwhelming -340 favorite to win this year's race. Meanwhile his main rival, two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard, is the +300 second choice in the odds among the 184 Tour de France riders. Paul Seixas (+1000), Isaac del Toro (+1600) and Florian Lipowitz (+1600) round out the top five choices on the odds board.

With so many variables in every Tour de France, you'll want to read how SportsLine senior writer Gene Menez, who hit a +3300 best bet in the 2023 Tour and a +250 best last year, breaks down the race before making any 2026 Tour de France picks of your own.

A former reporter and associate editor for Sports Illustrated, where he covered an array of sports for almost 14 years, Menez has been obsessed with the Tour de France for four decades. He has been following the iconic three-week race since the mid-1980s when Greg LeMond was riding to three yellow jerseys.

In 2023, Menez correctly hit Adam Yates to finish in the top three overall at +3300. And last year Menez nailed Jonathan Milan to win the green jersey at +250. 

Menez has analyzed this year's Tour de France route and contenders and has identified three best bets.

We can tell you that Menez is picking Jasper Philipsen to win the points classification at +150. "He not only is the fastest man on wheels and a past winner of the green jersey (in 2023), he also has the best leadout train in the business," Menez told SportsLine.

Moreover, Menez has two other best bets, including one on a rider at +400. This rider is a "climbing savant" and could surprise. You absolutely need to see whom it is before you lock in any picks.

So what rider could surprise? And what other best bets does Menez like? ... Join SportsLine now to see which riders to be all over, all from the expert who hit a +3300 best bet in 2023!