Cycling Betting and the Tour de France
There is no official season, or a ball to be played with, but cycling betting is rapidly growing in the sports betting industry. Each year, more and more bettors are placing money on cycling for a number of reasons. This article gets in-depth to breakdown the sport of cycling and how to bet on it.
Cycling is a team sport, but individuals are rewarded on their personal timed performance and are in no way affected by the scores of their teammates. Much like the betting format of horse racing, betting on cycling is as simple as placing money on a certain cyclist to finish in a certain position or rank in the race. The most popular bets in cycling are:
Cycling Bets on the Winner
The simplest bet that can be placed on a cycling event is betting on the winner of the race. Betting on the winner will typically pay out very well, as there are usually hundreds of cyclists competing in the biggest and most popular races.
Placement Bets
On top of betting on the winner, bookies and sportsbooks also offer placement bets on major cycling races, allowing bets to be made on a cyclist finishing position. Bettors can place money on cyclists finishing in the top 3, top 5, top 10, and so on.
For example, if you feel confident that a certain cyclist will perform very well, but you are not confident in betting on him as the overall winner, you could bet that your cyclist finishes in the top 5. These placement bets allow bettors more room for error than betting on the winner, but will pay out less if they hit.
Tour De France Betting
When it comes to betting on cycling, there are only a few competitions significant enough to offer betting odds. The most popular cycling race for both betting and spectating is the Tour de France. Statistically, the Tour de France is the most attended live sporting event and one of the most bet on spectacle year after year.
Classifications of the Tour de France
When it comes to betting on the Tour de France, things can get slightly complicated. There are three different classifications of the Tour de France. These classifications include the general classification, mountains classification, and a points classification. Each of these classifications have their own point scoring system, which rewards cyclists for different achievements.
Tour de France General Classification
The most significant winner of the Tour de France is the winner of the general classification. Each of the 21 stages of the race are timed, and the cyclist with the lowest average stage time after all of the stages have been raced is deemed to be the winner. Despite the other classifications, the winner of the general classification is considered the overall winner of the Tour de France.
When betting on Tour de France futures, you are likely betting on the general classification, unless it is specifically stated otherwise. The general classification is the most commonly bet competition in the Tour de France, with an estimated 85% or more of Tour de France bets being placed on the general classification portion of the race.
Tour de France Mountains Classification
While not as significant as the general classification, the mountains classification is an essential aspect of the Tour de France. As the name hints, this classification prioritizes riders who excel on the mountainous terrains of the course. Cyclists who are able to climb certain predetermined steep parts of the course the quickest are awarded with climbing points. These climbing points can be gained throughout the 21 stages of the race. The rider with the most mountain points after the 21 stages is the winner of the mountains classification.
While it is not common, some bettors do like to place wagers on the mountains classification. These odds are not offered by all bookmakers, but some bookies, especially in Europe, will offer odds on the mountain classification.
Tour de France Points Classification
Another classification of the Tour de France is the points classification. Much like the mountains classification, this is a race within the race. The only difference is that instead of prioritizing race time on the mountains, the point classification focuses on the “sprinters”, rewarding those who record the shortest times to and from predetermined points on the track.
Much like the other sub-classifications, the points classification is not as important as the general classification. Understandably, the points classification is not bet on as frequently as the general classification, but odds are offered by bookies on this sub-classification of the race.
Cycling Betting Conclusion
In conclusion, betting on cycling is just like betting on any other sport once you understand the basics. While there are much fewer events to bet on compared to other sports, cycling betting is still growing in recent years with more and more bettors getting interested each year. The Tour de France is by far the most popular cycling event each year, making it the most bet on as well. Bettors with knowledge or insight on cyclists and their riding styles and course preferences would have a great advantage when betting this race and its sub-classifications each year.
