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Tour De France: Most Successful Cyclists In Race History

The Tour de France, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, has taken place every year since it’s creation in 1903 (other than during the two World Wars).

It is a gruelling 23-day challenge through July, demanding immense stamina from the riders before the race finishes along Paris’ Champs Elysees, which is one of the most famous, iconic moments in the sporting year.

Tour de France success, and wearing the yellow jersey, is the highlight of any cyclist’s career. Some have been lucky enough to win the Tour on more than one occasion – this article looks at the most successful cyclists in Tour history...

Chris Froome

Only five riders have won four or more Tour de France titles – Chris Froome is one of them. Froome finished second overall behind Bradley Wiggins in 2012, assisting his teammate to become the first ever British Tour de France winner.

He won his first Tour in 2013, but was forced to pull out in 2014 after several crashes. Returning in 2015, Froome won three in a row, and in 2017/18 he achieved something spectacular.

Having won the Vuelta a Espana in 2017, Froome added the 2018 Giro d’Italia and the 2018 Tour de France to become the first rider since 1983 to hold the winners’ jerseys for all three Grand Tours at the same time.

Whatever happens in the remainder of his career, he is an icon of British cycling and has booked his place in sporting history.

Froome will unfortunately miss the 2019 Tour de France because of injury. Follow 888Sport’s blog to keep up to date with the latest Team GB cycling news and tips.

Lance Armstrong

This one is obviously controversial, and Lance Armstrong was actually stripped of his seven titles, but his successes are still a part of the Tour de France’s history, even if it’s a part the world of cycling would rather forget.

Armstrong won every Tour de France from 1999 to 2005. In 2012, he was officially stripped of all of them after years of allegations about doping.

He continued to deny any use of performance-enhancing substance until 2013, often clashing with fellow cyclists such as Christophe Bassons, who regularly mentioned doping in the sport.

Miguel Indurain

Racing for Banesto in the 1990s, Miguel Indurain won five Tour de France titles in a row from 1991 to 1995. No one has won more Tours than Indurain, and no other rider has won five in a row.

An understated star of the sport, Indurain was a quiet leader of his team, and reluctant to face comparison with previous Tour winners. Standing at 6’2”, the Spaniard was considered a physical freak with a resting heart rate as low as 28 beats per minute.

Indurain pushed for a sixth Tour victory in 1996 but he struggled to keep pace after bronchitis in the first week and finished 11th. He officially retired in January 1997 as one of the greatest cyclists of all-time.

Fellow Spaniard Mikel Landa is 20/1 to win the 2019 Tour de France in 888’s sports betting odds.

Jacques Anquetil

Between 1957 and 1964, Jacques Anquetil won the Tour de France on five occasions. He famously stated before the start of the 1961 Tour that he would earn the yellow jersey on day one and wear it all the way through – which he did.

In the year of his fifth and final Tour win, Anquetil won BBC’s international personality award and was shortly after named French Sportsman of the Year.

He retired in 1969, and famously only cycled three times after that, claiming that he had spent enough time on a bike.

Bernard Hinault

Another five-time Tour de France winner, Bernard Hinault battled through multiple knee injuries to rack up an astonishing CV. He is the most recent French winner of the Tour, claiming his fifth victory in 1985.

Hinault’s early success came with Renault, winning in 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982. Losing out to his teammate Laurent Fignon saw a dispute with the team, though, and he departed to join Greg LeMond at La Vie Claire.

He won the 1985 Tour with the help of LeMond, completing a Giro D’Italia-Tour de France double for the second time in his career.

Eddy Merckx

Eddy Merckx is not just the joint-most successful Tour de France cyclist, he also holds the record for most overall Grand Tour victories. Between 1970 and 1974, Merckx completed four Grand Tour doubles, including the first-ever cycling Triple Crown in 1974.

Regarded by many as the greatest ever, Merckx has remained a prominent figure in the cycling world since retiring in 1978.

He coached the Belgian national team for over a decade in the 1980s and 1990s and has played a significant role in organising events in the Middle East.

Will we ever see a rider like Merck again? 888Sport is the place to be for all the latest Tour de France cycling odds.

Greg LeMond

Considered to be the greatest American cyclist ever, Greg LeMond won the Tour de France three times. His successes came between 1986 and 1990, and he remains the only American to have won the Tour.

The two times he didn’t win in that span were in 1987 and 1988, when he was unavailable for the event because of accident while hunting.

LeMond has been a vocal campaigner against doping, challenging Lance Armstrong on numerous occasions. He’s been no stranger to conflict and remains a key voice in cycling despite retiring a quarter of a century ago.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Daniel Cole / AP Photo*

July 5, 2021

Cycling

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Tottenham Hotspur Fan Zone – Everything You Need To Know About Spurs!

We’ve created the most complete team profile so that all Tottenham fans will be in the know, with the latest and most interesting facts around Tottenham – from historical stats to betting odds, you will find all the answers regarding the club...

Tottenham Hotspur Team Profile
Website: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/	Major Honours
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TottenhamHotspur/ (11.6 million likes)	English titles – 2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial (3.5 million followers)	FA Cups – 8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spursofficial/ (5.1 million followers)	League Cups – 4
Date Founded: 1882	European trophies – 3

Tottenham Hotspur FC Betting Tips, Predictions & Winning Odds

Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League in the 2018/19 season and made it to their first-ever Champions League final, falling to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Spurs are priced at 16/1 by 888sport to win the Premier League title in 2019/20 and are 4/6 to make it into the top four yet again.

888sport’s blog is the place to be for all Tottenham betting news and information throughout the 2019/20!

Tottenham Hotspur - 2019/20 Squad

Heading into the 2019/20 campaign, Tottenham’s squad is littered with big names, and they don’t come much greater than England captain and star striker Harry Kane.

Kane is joined on the forward line by the brilliant Son Heung-min, who is a real fan favourite in north London.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is one of the best in his position in the Premier League, and he’s protected by Belgian central defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth provide the depth at the back, while Ben Davies, Danny Rose, Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier compete for full-back minutes.

Who Were Tottenham Hotspur's Top Scorers Last Season?

1. Harry Kane – 24 goals

2. Heung-min Son – 20 goals

3. Lucas Moura – 15 goals

4. Christian Eriksen – 10 goals

5. Fernando Llorente – 8 goals

Who Are Tottenham Hotspur's Top Scorers Of All-Time?

1. Jimmy Greaves – 266 goals

2. Bobby Smith – 208 goals

3. Martin Chivers – 174 goals

4. Harry Kane – 164 goals

5. Cliff Jones – 159 goals

Who Owns Tottenham Hotspur Football Club?

Tottenham are owned by ENIC International Ltd., who took over private ownership of the club in January 2012.

What Are Tottenham Hotspur's Biggest Rivalries?

Like all London clubs, Tottenham have plenty of rivals in the capital. Chelsea and West Ham are notable rivalries, but neither come close to Arsenal, who Spurs contest the North London Derby with.

Arsenal had the better of Spurs for many years, and the Gunners celebrated St. Totteringham’s Day on the day that it was confirmed Arsenal would finish above the Lilywhites.

It hasn’t been celebrated lately, however, as Spurs have finished above Arsenal in every Premier League campaign since 2015/16. The derby matches are extremely competitive, with high-scoring matches and red cards very common.

The rivalry with Chelsea has brought some feisty affairs in recent years, including in 2015/16 when Chelsea ended Tottenham’s title dreams.

What Are Tottenham's Highest Player Salaries? How Much Is The Club Worth?

According to Spotrac, Tottenham’s wage bill for the 2018/19 season was just above £86 million. Harry Kane was the highest paid player at the club, earning £200,000 per week.

Worth $1.6 billion according to Forbes, Tottenham ranked as the ninth-most valuable football club on the planet on the most recent list.

Nike are Tottenham’s current kit manufacturers. Starting in 2018/19, the kit deal with Nike will run for 15 years with Spurs receiving around £30 million per season.

Tottenham's Most Memorable Moments & Greatest Achievements

Tottenham’s greatest ever season came in 1960/61 as they claimed their first and only league and FA Cup double. They had won the league 10 years prior that, however, and won two more FA Cups in the 1960s before winning it back-to-back at the start of the 1980s.

Spurs’ most recent trophy was the League Cup in 2007/08 as they defeated their archrivals Chelsea in the final.

Since then, Tottenham have enjoyed some memorable moments, though, and had several in the 2018/19 Champions League run to their first ever European Cup/Champions League final.

Fernando Llorente’s late winner against Manchester City and Lucas Moura’s astonishing second half hat-trick against Ajax are the undoubted highlights.

Tottenham Hotspur Fan Profile

Tottenham have a massive fan base, with the majority of their British sport coming from the south east of England.

One of their fans’ most famous songs is ‘Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur’, which began after they won the double in 1960/61. Spurs have many celebrity fans, including former owner Alan Sugar, singer Adele and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.

White Hart Lane, London

Tottenham play their home matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, their new ground which they moved into in April 2019, playing their first match there against Crystal Palace.

The stadium is located on the same site as White Hart Lane – Spurs’ stadium from 1899 to 2017. The new arena has a capacity of 62,062.

Famous Tottenham Hotspur Legends

Tottenham has been home to many star players from Jimmy Greaves to Paul Gascoigne. Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa became fan favourites through the late 1970s and 1980s, and a few years later Jurgen Klinsmann and David Ginola were idolized at White Hart Lane.

England internationals Gary Lineker and Glenn Hoddle are two of the most recognizable names to have taken the field for the club.

Current star man Harry Kane has followed in the footsteps of the two club icons, along with fellow strikers Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe. In the current team, few players are more popular than Heung-min Son.

June 25, 2019

Premier League

By Sam Cox

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Wolverhampton Wanderers Team Profile
Website: https://www.wolves.co.uk/	Major Honours
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wolves/ (940,000 Likes)	English titles – 5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wolves (427,000 followers)	Runners up – 5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolves/ (413,000 followers)	FA Cup – 4
Date Founded: 1877	League Cup – 2

Major League Baseball: 10 Greatest Ever MLB Players

Baseball is a sport with a rich and long history. The first ever Major League Baseball game was played in 1871, and since then there have been controversies, dynasties and some truly exceptional ballplayers.

888sport is the home of baseball news, betting tips and MLB odds. This article takes a look at the greatest players ever, including Hall of Famers, should-be Hall of Famers and someone who is still active, but on the right trajectory to be perhaps the greatest ever...

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth is an icon of sport. The Great Bambino started as a pitcher for the Red Sox before joining the arch-rival New York Yankees in 1920.

Ruth changed the game as a hitter, lifting baseball from the dead ball era as he led the American League in homers in 12 straight seasons and won seven World Series titles along the way.

Finishing with 714 home runs, and a legacy like few other in the history of sport, Ruth was always a lock for this list. A few have made a claim since, but there always has been, and always will be, a compelling argument for Ruth as the greatest to ever play the game.

Barry Bonds

Bonds is yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. There’s no arguing with what he achieved, however, holding the all-time home run record, most career walks and the most intentional walks at a frankly hilarious 688.

Winning seven MVPs, Bonds was as dominant as any ballplayer has ever been. The controversy of the PED era has harmed his legacy, but Bonds’ career should not be whitewashed from baseball history.

Whatever offensive metric you pick, Bonds is up there with Ruth and Mays – you can put qualifiers on his achievements and his numbers, but he belongs in that group and the discussion with the iconic names in baseball history.

Willie Mays

The ‘Say Hey Kid’, Willie Mays shares the record for most All-Star games with 24. His 660 home runs are fifth on the all-time list, and he is considered the finest five-tool player to have played the game.

Not just a power hitter, he boasted a career average above .300, exceptional speed and was a remarkable defender in centre field. Mays only won the one World Series title, but there’s no doubting his place at the top table.

We may never see a career like Mays’ again, and like Bonds and Ruth, he’s got a very good argument as the greatest.

Roger Clemens

Like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens is yet to be named to the Hall of Fame and may never be. That’s not what we’re here to talk about, though. This is about the greatest to play the game, and controversy or not, Clemens ranks right up with the best to take the mound.

His numbers speak for themselves. Along with two Triple Crowns, an MVP and seven Cy Young awards, Clemens ranks eighth all-time in Baseball Reference’s version of WAR.

A career ERA of 3.12 is mightily impressive, and even more so when he pairs that with the longevity of a 24-year Major League career.

Ted Williams

Despite being interrupted by mandatory military service, Ted Williams constructed a monumental career, including 19 All-Star appearances, two MVPs and two Triple Crowns.

He batted .406 in 1941 and remains the last player to bat above .400 for the entirety of an MLB season. His career OPS+ of 190 is second only to Babe Ruth, and he would be a member of the 3000-hit club had he not missed three prime years of his career.

Williams wanted people to regard him as ‘the greatest hitter who ever lived’, and he did a pretty good job of that. 888sport is one of the leading baseball betting sites and offer Williams’ Red Sox at 16/1 to win the World Series.

Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson is regarded as the greatest baserunner and leadoff hitter in MLB history. No one comes close to his 1406 career stolen base tally, and when paired with a brilliant eye and a fair bit of pop, he slugged .419 for his career. Henderson was a truly special talent.

The unique skillset and career that spanned from 1979 to 2003 earned Henderson first ballot entry into the Hall of Fame, and rightly so.

Above his sporting talents, Henderson was admired and adored for his love of baseball and uplifting personality, making him an entertainer on and off the diamond.

Mike Trout

Mike Trout is the only active player on this list, which is an achievement in itself. It is all the more remarkable when you remind yourself he’s only 27 years old and continues to improve.

Trout has finished in the top two in MVP voting every full season he has played, and the general trend is of improvement across the board. There are some special five-tool players on this list, and Trout is one of them.

Underrated in a struggling Angels team, the New Jersey born centre fielder is already a lock for Cooperstown (providing he plays 10 years) and could surpass some of the other names in this article by the time he retires. Trout’s 176 career OPS+ is fifth all-time.

With only two MVP awards to his name, Trout is always a favourite to add another in 888sport’s online MLB betting odds.

Nolan Ryan

Texas native Nolan Ryan was a pitcher like no other. His stuff was special, pairing a red-hot fastball with a nasty curve, and he broke countless records as a result, striking batters out at a prolific rate and walking them almost as often.

Despite a tendency to hand out the free pass, Ryan was immensely successful, pitching in 27 Major League seasons. No other pitcher has thrown more than four no-hitters. Ryan threw seven.

He is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters with 12. A 98.8% first ballot Hall of Famer, Ryan’s records may well never be beaten.

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle had a career, like so many great athletes, that was plagued by injuries. He suffered, often playing through pain, caused by osteomyelitis, yet he left a legacy in Major League Baseball that earns him a spot in the Hall of Fame’s inner circle.

The Mick was a 20-time All-Star, a three-time MVP and won seven World Series, playing on several dominant New York Yankees teams alongside fellow Cooperstown inductees Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter and Whitey Ford.

Mantle ranks seventh all-time in OPS+, and the second best ever for a centre fielder, only bettered by current superstar Mike Trout.

Cy Young

Only The Babe and Walter Johnson have more bWAR than Cy Young. The righty, whose career ran from 1890 to 1911, is the all-time leader in games started, complete games and innings pitched.

The award for the best pitcher in each league is named after him. It was a different time – we’re talking about well over 100 years ago – but his career is the stuff of baseball legend.

History is a major part of baseball, it is a sport that prides itself on tradition and it’s longevity, and few players are significant in the game’s story as Cy Young.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

June 19, 2019

Baseball

By Sam Cox

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Sam Cox

Chris Froome

Lance Armstrong

Miguel Indurain

Jacques Anquetil

Bernard Hinault

Eddy Merckx

Greg LeMond

Tottenham Hotspur FC Betting Tips, Predictions & Winning Odds

Tottenham Hotspur - 2019/20 Squad

Who Were Tottenham Hotspur's Top Scorers Last Season?

Who Are Tottenham Hotspur's Top Scorers Of All-Time?

Who Owns Tottenham Hotspur Football Club?

What Are Tottenham Hotspur's Biggest Rivalries?

What Are Tottenham's Highest Player Salaries? How Much Is The Club Worth?

Tottenham's Most Memorable Moments & Greatest Achievements

Tottenham Hotspur Fan Profile

White Hart Lane, London

Famous Tottenham Hotspur Legends

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Betting Tips, Predictions & Winning Odds

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - 2019/20 Squad

Who Were Wolverhampton Wanderers' Top Scorers Last Season?

Who Are Wolverhampton Wanderers' Top Scorers Of All-Time?

Who Owns Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club?

What Are Wolverhampton Wanderers' Biggest Rivalries?

What Are Wolverhampton Wanderers' Highest Player Salaries? How Much Is The Club Worth?

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Most Memorable Moments & Greatest Achievements

Wolverhampton Wanderers Fan Profile

Molineux, Wolverhampton

Famous Wolverhampton Wanderers Legends

Serena Williams

Martina Navratilova

Roger Federer

Pete Sampras

Novak Djokovic

Billie Jean King

Bjorn Borg

Steffi Graf

Ashes 2019: Home Advantage Helps

Stopping Anderson & Broad A Tough Task

The Jofra Archer Factor

Up And Down Aussies Hard To Back?

Team Balance Favours England

MARIA SHARAPOVA vs Serena Williams (2004)

MICHELLE LARCHER DE BRITO vs Maria Sharapova (2013)

JENNIFER CAPRIATI vs Martina Navratilova (1991)

NICK BROWN vs Goran Ivanisevic (1991)

GEORGE BASTL vs Pete Sampras (2002)

LUKAS ROSOL vs Rafael Nadal (2012)

IVO KARLOVIC vs Lleyton Hewitt (2003)

Royal Ascot 2013: Estimate

Royal Ascot 2012: Frankel

Royal Ascot 1981 & 82: Ardross

Royal Ascot 1929: Brown Jack

Royal Ascot 2012: Black Caviar

Royal Ascot 1953: Choir Boy

Royal Ascot 2003: Choisir

Royal Ascot 1990: Fox Chapel

Royal Ascot 2019: Winners?

2:30pm - Chesham Stakes (7f)

3:05pm - Jersey Stakes (7f)

3:40pm - Hardwicke Stakes (1m 3f)

4:20pm - Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6f)

5:00pm - Wokingham Handicap (6f)

5:35pm - Queen Alexandra Stakes (2m 5f)

Babe Ruth

Barry Bonds

Willie Mays

Roger Clemens

Ted Williams

Rickey Henderson

Mike Trout

Nolan Ryan

Mickey Mantle

Cy Young