Odds
Are Armstrong Will Ride in 2006
Comments made by Lance
Armstrong earlier this week suggested that the
seven-time Tour de France champion may end his
brief retirement to ride in next year's race
to silence his critics and their constant doping
allegations. If Armstrong does ride in next
year's Tour, it would come as no surprise to
bettors who've believed all along that the world's
top cyclist would return to the sport. Immediately
following his seventh Tour victory, PinnacleSports.com
opened wagering on Armstrong competing in the
2006 Tour de France, and bettors instantly flocked
to the site backing the Texan to come out of
retirement.
When wagering opened on July 24, PinnacleSports.com
listed the odds of Lance Armstrong competing
in the 2006 Tour de France as a 24/1 long shot.
However, with nearly all bets placed backing
Armstrong to end his brief retirement and try
for his eighth consecutive Tour title, the odds
have moved all the way to 5/2 that Lance will
compete in next year's race. The betting patterns
have also changed the odds on the seven-time
champion not riding in the 2006 Tour, moving
from an overwhelming favorite of just 1/28 when
betting opened to currently standing as a slight
favorite at odds of 1/3.
"Like we've seen with Michael Jordan in
recent years, it's often difficult for top athletes
to resist their competitive fire and truly walk
away when on top of their game," said Simon
Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "Our betting
markets have always been a very accurate predictor
of public perception, and in this case, almost
everyone believed Armstrong wasn't hanging it
up for good from the time he captured his historic
seventh yellow jersey. After his comments earlier
in the week, there's even more doubt that Lance
has ridden in his final Tour de France, and
it appears that our bettors correctly predicted
his comeback."
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