Tour de France 2012: Best Bets to Win Cycling's Most Prestigious Event

One of the best parts of the 2012 Tour de France is the feeling of the unknown. The field is loaded with talented cyclists, but there is not that one overwhelming superstar who trumps everyone else on the trek through France. 

That is not to say there aren't favorites—they just may not be as prohibitive as we had grown accustomed to in recent years. 

Here is a look ahead to the Tour de France, taking a look at the riders who will be making the most noise. 

Cadel Evans

The 35-year-old Australian made history in 2011 by becoming the first person from his country to win the Tour de France. It was a surprising victory, but one that was very well-deserved. 

Proving that victory wasn't a fluke, Evans has followed up his triumph in last year's Tour by winning the 2012 Criterium International and finishing third at the Criterium du Dauphine.

I doubt that he will enter the race as the favorite to win, but he proved last year that it would be foolish to bet against him. 

Bradley Wiggins

A crash ended Wiggins' quest for the Tour de France last year, but he has rebounded in spectacular fashion so far this year. 

Wiggins has won three major events so far this year, including the Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine. No one can match his credentials on the track right now, making him the best bet to make it through the grueling stages of the Tour de France. 

In a race where stamina is just as important, if not more so, than speed and power, Wiggins has done a remarkable job of making himself the man to beat. 

Vincenzo Nibali

While not possessing a resume as accomplished as Evans or Wiggins, Nibali is making quite a name for himself right now. His best finish at the Tour de France was seventh in 2007. 

Now that Nibali appears to have put everything together, with a victory at the Tirreno-Adriatico and two runner-up finishes, this is his best chance at making it through the Tour de France. 

I would put him behind Evans and Wiggins, but in a race like this, with so much instability at the top, Nibali is a solid choice to walk away with a victory. 

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