Today’s golfers can really hit the ball...but they haven’t totally learnt how to play

IN HOT WATER OVER VAN DE VELDE FLOP

Last year the 2,115 metres of the Col du Tourmalet came halfway through a stage but this time 38km of climbing finishes at the summit and fireworks are expected.Top climber Romain Bardet (18-1 with betway) finished with Geraint Thomas over the summit last year and has a point to prove after slipping in the GC standings.

He could slip the field late without challenging their overall time.The other one to cover is Spaniard Mikel Landa (11-2 betway), who looks geared up for the climbs.Also good value are Lancashire and Middlesex (both 11-1 Ladbrokes) to win the T20 Blast. Peter Alliss says he was not trying to take the mickey out of Van de Velde when the Frenchman blew his 1999 Open chances, but courts controversy again by questioning the greatness of Tiger Woods, right