Tour de France: Points Classification predictions and tips

Best bet

Peter Sagan to win points classification
1pt 5-6 Betway

Analysis

The Tour de France green jersey has belonged to Peter Sagan in recent years, the brilliant Slovakian winning the points classification in seven of the last eight runnings.

Only a controversial disqualification in 2017 interrupted that run but there are doubts whether his reign will continue in 2020. Sagan has lacked his characteristic spark over the last year, appearing somewhat subdued, and he has even hinted at early retirement.

At 30, he still has plenty of racing ahead of him should he desire and this year's Tour route suites him.

Sagan's Bora-Hansgrohe colleagues Emanuel Buchmann and Maximilian Schachmann may have overall aspirations which could also benefit the Tourminator. His green-jersey wins have often revolved around being sent up the road with a teammate and picking up points against slower breakaway companions.

Should Buchmann and Schachmann show form, the three-time world road race champion could have a tactical role to play in infiltrating his usual number of breakaways and providing an extra support option for when the road heads skywards.

Sagan doesn't have the pace to battle with the real fast men for stage wins, but by the same token, Lotto-Soudal's Caleb Ewan and Deceuninck Quick-Step's Sam Bennett lack the climbing prowess to add to their tallies in the mountains.

That may open the door for Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert, who has been without doubt the star man since racing returned, triumphing at the Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo.

Van Aert may be another who is sent up the road to be on duty later in the day. However, there will also be stages where the Belgian time-trial champion will be charged with powering along the flat to set up Primoz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin for the mountains, especially with Steven Kruijswijk absent.

Sagan may not be the force of nature he once was but on this parcours, Peter the Great looks the man to beat in his quest for a record-extending eighth points triumph.

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