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The Tour de France has made it to the first rest day and it is fair to say the greatest bike race on the planet is living up to expectations.

With all the very best general classification riders on show, hopes of an exciting battle for the yellow jersey were high to say the least.

And so far it has not disappointed, with the fight to win the Tour de France still very much alive.

But away from the race for the yellow jersey, the 2024 Tour de France, has seen history be made on more than one occasion.

It bodes well for the rest of the race, but for one day at least, it is time to put the feet up and reflect on what has been a gripping Tour de France so far.

 Pogacar remains the man to beat 

Tadej Pogacar was the hot fancy to win the Tour de France heading into the race and there has been no evidence to suggest that that has changed.

Indeed, if anything, Pogacar has shown over nine days of racing that he is stronger than ever.

The win at the Giro d'Italia, plus reports of sickness in the lead-up, have not affected him and he currently holds the yellow jersey.

Pogacar is 33 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel in second place and is priced at 1.44 to win the Tour de France.

Despite Evenepoel being so close and looking lean and mean, the Belgian star is priced at 15.00 to win.

With some huge stages to come, there is still a question mark over whether he could compete with Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the mountains.

Vingegaard is 1 min 15 secs behind Pogacar and will be satisfied with the way he has performed ahead of the rest day.

Again there are bigger challenges to come that will test his lack of racing in the lead-up to the Tour de France, with the Dane 3.00 to win the race.

Primoz Roglic is 1 min 36 secs down on Pogacar and does not look like challenging for yellow unless misfortune strikes his rivals. A price of 41.00 says it all.

 Cavendish makes history 

One of the biggest talking points heading into the Tour de France, surrounded Mark Cavendish and whether he would be able to pass Eddie Merckx for most stage wins.

Cavendish and Merckx were sat together on 34 Tour de France stage wins, but the gun sprinter took the record outright when winning Stage 5 at this year's race.

Cavendish will also have more opportunities to add to his now record 35 stage wins at the Tour de France.

Stage 10 is one for the sprinters and Cavendish is priced at 5.00 to win it, while Jasper Philipsen is the hot fancy at 2.62.

 Girmay looking good for green 

More history was made Biniam Girmay became the first black African cyclist to win a stage at the Tour de France.

Indeed, Girmay backed up his historic win on Stage 3, by also winning Stage 8 of the Tour.

The wins have put Girmay on 224 points in the race to win the Points Classification, 96 points ahead of Philipsen in second.

Girmay is now the hot fancy at 1.36 to stay in front and hold the green jersey all the way to Nice.