Steep roads, wild fans, and bettors await the peloton to cross some of France’s scenic views in the 2023 Tour de France. The biggest cycling race on the calendar is about to set off in the Basque Country and the stakes are as high as ever for the fastest road racers in the world.

Of course, 2023 winner Jonas Vingegaard returns to the stage as a favorite, while two-time winner Tadej Pogačar remains a close second. But, there’s a list of riders about to make their lives challenging. There are a few names out there ready to attack once the opportunities arise, and Nitrobetting puts tabs on the 2023 Tour de France sleeper picks.

Top 3 Sleeper Picks for 2023 Tour de France

The first confirmed team roster for @LeTour #TDF2023 has just been announced.https://t.co/Luaq4lx9bg pic.twitter.com/60RHSJH33V

— FirstCycling.com (@FirstCycling) June 20, 2023

Romain Bardet

• 2023 Tour de France Odds: +6,900

The French cyclist tops our sleeper picks list thanks to his smooth riding style. Bardet is a dark horse to overcome the frontrunners. The question is if he’s ready to break through. Well, his impressive start last year, taking the fourth spot in the rankings from the Tour, before suffering an off day that threw his winning chances out the door. Nonetheless, we expect him to be ready for July’s 21-stage race and motivated to finish ahead of the favorites.

The 32-year-old rides for Team DSM and is accompanied by promising names. His team is known for introducing new talent to the sport, as well as leadership backed by decades of experience. The battle-hardened leader Romain Bardet finished within the top ten of every stage he’s completed this season, which is a solid indication of his form. He finished sixth last year; it might have been more if he held his ground on a testing stage to Foix. Additional motivation comes in the form of stage finishes in his home city of Clermont-Ferrand and the Puy de Dôme.

Dani Martinez

• 2023 Tour de France Odds: +6,900

Ineos Grenadiers have a solid sleeper pick in Dani Martinez. Bernal’s fellow countryman is likely the strongest overall candidate for Ineos and appears to be in outstanding form at the Dauphiné before falling from sixth to 23rd overall after the final stage. The 27-year-old’s 2023 results feature a 25th-place finish at Vuelta a San Juan, a top podium finish at Volta ao Algarve, a 25th at Paris-Nice, and 34th at Itzulia Basque Country. He’s been eyeing the top spot since the start of the season and is likely to write compelling narratives this coming weekend.

Bagging third with veteran cyclist Geraint Thomas last year, Ineos Grenadiers risk losing and falling behind the Tour this year. However, many believe that the younger names could step up. Tom Pidcock, who begins at the Tour de Suisse, showcased his off-road form and won Nove Mesto in the process. The UK-based team will likely have somebody in the mix, and Dani Martinez could be that guy.

Giulio Ciccone

• 2023 Tour de France Odds: +10,000

Team Trek-Segafredo’s Giulio Ciccone appeared in two Tour de France editions and even wore the Yellow Jersey in 2019. The 28-year-old is on a hot streak this year, winning second and a stage win at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, fifth at Tirreno-Adriatico, fifth at Fleche Wallonne, and seventh with a stage win at Volta a Catalunya. This year also saw Ciccone finish within the top 15 of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Ciccone is hungry for a Tour de France stage victory and even making a statement in the mountains this summer. Consistency has been a big problem in Grand Tours, but the Italian cyclist is ready to prove everyone otherwise. However, things could be different for him this summer. Giulio already holds three victories and a series of top-ten finishes, despite COVID-19 sending him out of a Giro d’Italia team he was due to lead. His confidence remains sky high and we expect him to come in the race with a positive mindset in hopes of lifting the sleepers flag come July.

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