Cycling Betting & Discussion.

[Tonji]

How the Spanish see us Brits!

From Joaquim Rodríguez's twitter: The first time ever in my life I'm in England!! Unbelievable that everybody I speak with looks like as if they had came out of Top Gear!!

[cheapwetsuit]

Nice result there. 10km from the finish, Sky commentators said they couldn't see Mark Cavendish in the main peloton. So went to see the odds for the other sprinters, and was surprised to see Cavendish still shortening as favourite on Bet365. As low as 2/5 with no sight of him anywhere in the bunch. Of course I filled up with the other sprinters, and snagged Meersman at an incredible 24/1. At the same time, Betfair had Meersman at 4/1! Caught Bet365 napping, I think. Makes up for yesterday's debacle. I suggest keeping an eye on Meersman's Bet365 odds for tomorrow's stage ... another hilly affair. And listen to the commentators.

Also, StanJames still have Talansky @ 10/1 (e/w 1,2,3) and Porte @ 12/1 (e/w 1,2,3) for the overall. I decided to jump on board with both. Valverde seems the only one likely to threaten a Froome, Talansky, Porte 1-2-3.

[Tonji]

well done cws, 24/1    & I think he went off favourite.

Been too busy, only got Sky in the background.

[Tonji]

Team Sky have confirmed the Giro squad.

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17553_8668798,00.html

Pretty much as expected, full of climbers & diesels.

[Tonji]

Click to see full-size image.

Stage 3. Final climb looks tougher than todays, so fewer of the sprinters likely to make the finish. Meersman rightly favourite, but Francesco Gavazzi (6th today) should be his main challenger if it comes to a bunch sprint. 12/1 EW looks to have some value. Negative, stage profile makes it possible for a breakaway of riders with no overall hopes to stay away.

[cheapwetsuit]

Oops. Think you're looking at the wrong stage Tonji. Today is stage 2 (don't forget the prologue).

[cheapwetsuit]

Click to see full-size image.

Stage 2 looks to be the flattest stage of the Tour de Romandie. It's hard to know what's going through Mark Cavendish's mind at the moment, but I don't believe that he's gone to Switzerland to stretch his legs. At the moment, he is 8/1 @ William Hill and 7/1 @ Paddy Power to win today's stage. These are incredible prices for the best sprinter in the world. I guarantee that if Cavendish makes it over the Plagne climb in the peloton, and there are no breakaways, then he will be in the mix at the end of the race. Plus, he now has something to prove. According to Meersman, Cavendish had a mechanical yesterday, and so instead of acting as leadout, Meersman became OPQS's chief sprinter. I've had £5 on Cavendish to win Stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie. Don't bother going e/w, as he rarely finishes second (unless there is a breakaway).

[Tonji]

Oops. Think you're looking at the wrong stage Tonji. Today is stage 2 (don't forget the prologue).

Sigh, need a holiday 

[Tonji]

Ned Boulting On The Giro d'Italia 2013

[Tonji]

Stage 4. The queen stage. Forecast not great, shame, as on a bright sunny day the stage would look spectacular on TV.

Valverde probably sees this stage as his chance for yellow & to put Froome under pressure, particularly on the final descent where Froome has an apparent weakness.

Expect attacks from the teams of Pinot, Betancur, Gesink & van den Broeck to weaken any Sky attempts to control the stage.

Under the radar in this race is Simon Spilak. A past winner (by default), if he has the form of earlier in the month he could well feature. At 150/1, can't resist an interest, imo he should be 30-40/1.

With prices on Valverde & Froome being so short, there is good opportunities elsewhere, but will ponder over night.

[Tonji]

Ryder Hesjedal on twitter “Stopped today to give myself a week till Giro..same as last year except I feel better on the bike. #moreisnotalwaysbetter.”

[cheapwetsuit]

Expect attacks from the teams of Pinot, Betancur, Gesink & van den Broeck to weaken any Sky attempts to control the stage.

Under the radar in this race is Simon Spilak. A past winner (by default), if he has the form of earlier in the month he could well feature. At 150/1, can't resist an interest, imo he should be 30-40/1.

With prices on Valverde & Froome being so short, there is good opportunities elsewhere, but will ponder over night.

Obviously I've gone for Betancur in this. Lousy odds of 15/1 though. Slightly better priced is Damiano Cunego @ 33/1 (Bet365). Apparently he is quite handy at descending. I also like your Spilak tip, and will be hoping for a good showing from him. All e/w.

[Tonji]

Tour de Romandie route changed because of bad weather. The finish.



Not good for Valverde, but better for Betancur, Pinot & Froome.

Have gone for cws's Betancur.

[Tonji]

So todays stage now looks like this

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with the high point, the Col de la Croix, looking very wintery

Click to see full-size image.

Chances of the Giro riders, including Betancur, pulling off if conditions are particularly tough. We'll see.

[Tonji]

Great form continues ahead of the Giro for Santambrogio winning GP Industria Artigianato-Larciano.