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."