Stan Hey: 6-5 Against

Sanchez value at 65-1 to puncture Contador's Tour

I'll be out on my bike this morning purely as a ceremonial gesture to the opening day of the Tour de France, as once I've gone down our nearest hill there isn't a gear in Christendom that can shift my 14 stone back up it.

Imagine how Tour riders feel embarking upon three weeks of sunburnt torture, with additional mountain stages in Italy lying in wait.

It will be interesting to see how the title holder, Alberto Contador gets on under the shadow of a potential drug ban after testing positive during last year's Tour – he was exonerated by the Spanish federation but the World Doping Agency is challenging the acquittal. Contador was jeered by fans during yesterday's cheesy, medieval opening ceremony and can expect more adverse reaction on the road. I'm opposing Contador because he's no value anyway, trading at odds-on.

Instead, I'm going for Samuel Sanchez of the Basque team Euskaltel-Euskadi. Sanchez finished fourth overall last year, climbing well and producing some thrilling descents – £10 each-way, 65-1 at 32RED. The sprinters' green jersey can go to American Tyler Farrar (Garmin), £5 each-way, at 20-1, Paddy Power.

The Copa America began this morning with hosts Argentina meeting Bolivia – £10 goes on Uruguay (12-1 totesport) to break up the usual Brazil-Argentina dominance.

Today it's the Old Newton Cup at Haydock and Sharaayeen could be the answer; £10 each-way at 8-1, Ladbrokes.