Cycling Betting & Discussion.

[Tonji]

Gallopin 2nd in GC, 9 seconds behind Sagan. At least my thoughts on Gallopin going for overall is correct, whatever the result from here on in.

Expecting Sagan to win on stage 3, but struggle & loose time on the crucial 4th stage.

Gallopin's tactics will be to hang on to Contador's wheel (11 seconds back) on the Green Mountain & overtake Sagan into the red jersey. We'll see on Thursday.

[Tonji]

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling. 3:48:36

2. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard. 0:00:05

3. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team

5. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step. 0:00:07

6. Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling

29. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo-Tinkoff. 0.00:11

Actually a lot tighter than I first thought. Contador should still be strong Favourite with Nibali not far behind.

[Tonji]

Crucial stage tomorrow

[Tonji]

Click to see full-size image.

Hard to see past Contador for this stage. I expect Froome, Nibali, & Nocentini will be battling behind.

Gallopin has 16 seconds on Contador, it will be difficult to hold that. Still with a good chance of top 3 though.

[Tonji]

Volta ao Algarve starts tomorrow. Only a 4 day race this year.

Cavendish starts, looking for a couple of sprint stage wins, should be a walk in the park. His team mate Tony Martin is odds on to win overall. A final stage 35 km TT, should seal victory for him.

Click to see full-size image.

[vegaslover]

Click to see full-size image.

Hard to see past Contador for this stage. I expect Froome, Nibali, & Nocentini will be battling behind.

Gallopin has 16 seconds on Contador, it will be difficult to hold that. Still with a good chance of top 3 though.

Good taster tomorrow of Froome's form compared to Contador.
Very impressed with Sagan's form defo improved from last season and looks the real deal.
lining up to be a cracking season in the majors for the sprinters.

[Tonji]

Click to see full-size image.

Hard to see past Contador for this stage. I expect Froome, Nibali, & Nocentini will be battling behind.

Gallopin has 16 seconds on Contador, it will be difficult to hold that. Still with a good chance of top 3 though.

Good taster tomorrow of Froome's form compared to Contador.
Very impressed with Sagan's form defo improved from last season and looks the real deal.
lining up to be a cracking season in the majors for the sprinters.

An epic battle on the Mountain stage today I gather from twitter reports.

Have you seen the result?

I'll put a video up of the Eurosport highlights later/tomorrow when it becomes available.

[vegaslover]

Click to see full-size image.

Hard to see past Contador for this stage. I expect Froome, Nibali, & Nocentini will be battling behind.

Gallopin has 16 seconds on Contador, it will be difficult to hold that. Still with a good chance of top 3 though.

Good taster tomorrow of Froome's form compared to Contador.
Very impressed with Sagan's form defo improved from last season and looks the real deal.
lining up to be a cracking season in the majors for the sprinters.

An epic battle on the Mountain stage today I gather from twitter reports.

Have you seen the result?

I'll put a video up of the Eurosport highlights later/tomorrow when it becomes available.

Just seen result but no video, WOW in short

[Tonji]

Indeed, wow  didn't see that finishing order for sure.

Hope to find a decent highlight package of the stage later

[Tonji]

Yesterday, stage 4.

Today's stage was also a cracker!

[Tonji]

A banzai for the final stage 6 tomorrow.



Likelyhood is the peloton will be fairly relaxed & looking for an easy ride to a bunch sprint finish. Where Kittel & Bouhanni are favourites.

But, the last 5 km



has a short kick-up 4 km from the finish. An ideal launch for riders like Boonen & Phinney to us their strength to time trial away from the field. Both are no threat to the overall, so Sky will not be concerned. If that does not happen both are in with a shout in a bunch sprint having been 5th & 6th in the 1st stage sprint.

Boonen available at 25/1, Phinney at 50/1. Banzai with EW value.

[Tonji]

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the first Flanders classic of the year, 23rd Feb.

I really like one rider for this, he's not Belgian! Not sure if I'll be able to get a bet on...

[Tonji]

Stage 5.

Froome needs to loose a few more Kg if he wants to win the the TDF!

[Tonji]

Stage 6.

1. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ
2. Matt Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
3. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
4. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
5. Borut Božič (Slo) Team Astana
6. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
8. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
9. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp-Endura
10. Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox

Phinney gets the EW bet home 

[Tonji]

Stage 6.

1. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ
2. Matt Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
3. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
4. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
5. Borut Božič (Slo) Team Astana
6. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
8. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
9. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp-Endura
10. Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox

Phinney gets the EW bet home 

Yesterdays 6th & final stage.



a bit of promotion for the Oman tourist board!

Top result for Froome, winning GC, bodes well for his TDF ambition.

Surprised at how well Cadel Evans performed. At 36 I'd kind of written him off. It's possible he'll still be a force come July.