Binche-Chimay-Binche, 187.6km

This race used to be known as the Binche-Tournai-Binche race, but since 2010 it has become the Binche-Chimay-Binche race. It is also known as the Memorial Frank Vandebroucke, in memory of the rider who died in 2009.

It is an almost dead flat course which goes out on a loop south of the town of Binche in South West Belgium to Chimay and then comes back to Binche again, hence the name! They arrive back in Binche after 123km, then head off on four laps of a 16km circuit, which includes a 1km stretch of cobbles. It traditionally has favoured the sprinters with Blythe winning last year, the young German Rüdiger Selig in 2011 and Elia Viviani in 2010.

blythe

Unfortunately there isn't a single bookmaker that I can see offering odds on the race, but that is a pretty good reflection I guess as to how hard this race is going to be to call - literally any one of most of the field could win it.. I would expect it to be a sprinter will take it again this year, and although there are none of the real sprinting superstars taking the start, there are some pretty good fast men still in there.

It is a mix of ProTour teams and Pro Continental teams, but the likes of Katusha, BMC, Saxo-Tinkoff, Lotto-Belisol and Argos-Shimano have sent squads. A full list of the starters can be found here, but the few that I would have liked to have an interest in, were there any bookies willing to lay a bet on it, are as follows:

Adrien Petit - Cofidis - 2nd last year behind Blythe but in front of Jon Degenkolb (see pic above). 6ft 2", 80kg, he is a real powerhouse who has a number of top 10 finishes to his name - he is sure to be trying to go one better this year.

Danny and Boy Van Poppel - hard to know which of the two of them will be most likely, but Danny has had more top 10 finishes this season so would get the nod from me. (Edit, 8:30am - Boy isn't riding according to final lineup this morning, but Leukemans and Hoogerland are.

Michael Morkov - Saxo Tinkoff's main sprinter in the race, the Danish Champion showed in the Vuelta what he is capable of when coming off Cancellara's wheel to win stage 6 in fine style.

Davide Appollonio - the AG2r La Mondiale rider has had an ok season, winning a stage and the points jersey in the Tour de Luxembourg and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes in August.

Danilo Napolitano - He may be riding for the Pro Continental squad Accents Jobs-Wanty, but Napolitano was a prolific sprinter in recent years and has 4 top 10 places this year.

Argos-Shimano - They come mob handed with several who could have chances like Sinkledam, Van Rensburg or Roy Curvers who was 5th overall in the recent Port Classic.

So there are plenty who can win it, and plenty more who I haven't named that can win it, but it is kind of immaterial from my point of view as there is no way to bet on it and to guage who is over or under priced! Let's hope there are some prices put up for the Tour of Beijing which starts this week too.