Cycling Betting & Discussion.

[Tonji]

Tirreno-Adriatico live on Eurosport2 now with 70km to go.

[Tonji]

Tirreno-Adriatico. Stage 2.

[Tonji]

Cav & Greipel not even close. A really messy bunch sprint, with all the trains mistiming their leadouts.

Cav not a happy bunny “I don’t know, really … I should have been in the front and I come into a bunch of chaos. We come into the last kilometer in 30th position. I’m pretty disappointed in those last guys today, actually. I had a lot of ground to make up...I’m quite disappointed with my leadout today. It’s not often that I say that, but I think we’ll have to have words tonight.”

Any of today's top 3 were probably available at the 30 to 40/1 range. Such is the unpredictability of bike racing.

[Tonji]

Paris-Nice.

Talansky rode a solid tactical stage to hold a narrow lead.

Tomorrow is possibly the crucial & toughest stage. Châteauneuf-du-Pape - La Montagne de Lure

With a final climb to sort out the leaders.



Nairo Quintana will be a strong favourite for the stage. I also like the form of Michele Scarponi, & at only 18 sec back, he'll be motivated.

[Tonji]

Nairo Quintana will be a strong favourite for the stage. I also like the form of Michele Scarponi, & at only 18 sec back, he'll be motivated.

http://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/paris-nice/paris-nice-stage-5/winner

Scarponi is 14/1 with Sportingbet, a few points out of line. He's been looking strong all race. Negative, this is only his second race of the season, but previous years he's always been a consistent climber throughout the year. I've gone EW.

[Tonji]

Had a quick gander at stage 3 of TA.

Looks a Sagan type stage, hilly finish. Cannondale may try the same tactic as used at Strade Bianche & get Moser away in the last 5km. Main contenders will be biding their time for stage 4 mountains.

[Tonji]

Nairo Quintana will be a strong favourite for the stage. I also like the form of Michele Scarponi, & at only 18 sec back, he'll be motivated.

http://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/paris-nice/paris-nice-stage-5/winner

Scarponi is 14/1 with Sportingbet, a few points out of line. He's been looking strong all race. Negative, this is only his second race of the season, but previous years he's always been a consistent climber throughout the year. I've gone EW.

Approaching the final climb now on Eurosport.

[Tonji]

Paris - Nice 2013 - Stage 5.

[Tonji]

My man for the stage, Scarponi, made his move with 4km to go on the climb, but didn't fully commit. Unlike Skys Richie Porte who made a decisive move to get the win.

Talansky showed his inexperience with too many attacks on the climb, when he should have been following & saving energy to battle the last 2km. Still in 2nd, & pretty much on his own ability, as his team have been really poor in supporting him.

[Tonji]

Stage 4 at Tirreno-Adriatico.  Narni - Prati di Tivo.

Click to see full-size image.

A beautiful part of Italy.

All the big hitters, Contador, Froome, Rodriguez, Evans & Nibali will be testing each other in this mountain top finish.

Rodriguez for me, his form seems to be ahead of his rivals.

[Tonji]

Sky showed yesterday that they are following the same path to TdF victory with Froome, as Wiggins last year.

The Sky train blunted all their rivals on the final climb, allowing Froome to attack in the last km. Impressive stuff, but makes for boring racing. 

[Tonji]

The Aussies in OGE at TA

[Tonji]

The final stage today in Paris - Nice is an Individual Time Trial. My EW bet on Talansky looks ok. He's 2nd, 32 sec behind Porte, & a 10 second buffer to Chavanel in 3rd. He should be top three in this stage, & hold for a podium position. Moral boost needed.

[Tonji]

Andrew Talansky got 2nd in the ITT, & held comfortably for a tremendous 2nd in GC. He's likely to ride his debut TdF, but certainly needs a stronger team around him to break into the top 5 overall. Top 10 would be an achievement.

[Tonji]

Brutal stage in progress at Tirreno-Adriatico, loads of riders abandoning including Cavendish.