Beginner’s Guide To Betting On Pro Cycling
Professional cycling is a dynamic sport, and one that has gained a substantial following worldwide over the past number of decades. What’s more, its unique blend of endurance, strategy, and teamwork makes it an excellent choice for sports betting enthusiasts.
Our guide to betting on cycling is aimed at beginners, and we hope that punters will find the information valuable for making smarter bets.
Start With The Races
With any type of sports betting, it is important for the bettor to first become familiar with what the sport itself is all about – in this case, a focus on the different types of races:
Grand Tours. Examples include the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España. These are the most prestigious and challenging multi-stage races that span several weeks. Wagers on the overall winner and predicting individual stage winners are popular.
One-Day Classics. Examples: Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, Ronde van Vlaanderen. These are all single-day, highly competitive races. Betting on the race winner, top finishers, and specialists in certain terrains is especially common with One-Day Classics.
Stage Races. Great examples include the Tour de Suisse and Tour of California. These are multi-stage races but are typically shorter in duration compared to Grand Tours. Some bettors prefer this type of race as opposed to longer events. Wagers are usually placed on stage winners and overall winners.
Time Trials. These often form part of multi-stage races. Bets on individual time trial performances are exceptionally popular.
Points Races. Examples include Tour of Flanders and Paris-Tours. Sprinters are popular focus-points for sports bettors.
A Grip On The Odds
Needless to say, understanding betting odds is essential when wagering on professional cycling – especially when you’re a beginner and learning the ropes.
Odds are what indicate the likelihood of a particular outcome and the potential profit associated with a successful bet.
Below are the three main types of odds you’ll encounter when wagering on cycling (and many other forms of sports betting):
Fractional Odds: Common in the UK and Ireland, fractional odds represent the potential profit relative to the bet. For example, if a cyclist has odds of 5/1, you’ll win $5 for every $1 you wager if they are victorious.
Decimal Odds: More commonly used in Europe, decimal odds represent the total potential payout, including your initial wager. For instance, if a cyclist has odds of 6.00, a $10 bet will result in a $60 payout if they win the event.
Moneyline Odds: Predominantly used in the US, moneyline odds show the amount you need to wager to win $100, or the potential profit from a $100 bet. For example, +250 means you can win $250 with a $100 bet, while -150 indicates you need to bet $150 to win $100.
Tips For Successful Betting
Again, our tips below focus strongly on betting for beginners:
Research and Analysis. Or in other words, “do your homework”. This includes staying informed about riders, their recent performances, how their teams function as a whole, and the race conditions.
Stay Updated. Always remember that cycling is a particularly dynamic sport, and circumstances can change rapidly. Always keep an eye on race developments, injuries, and team strategies. Stay current with your information.
Focus on specific race types or particular aspects of cycling (e.g., sprinting, climbing, time trials) to gain expertise while you continue to learn more and gain experience.
Have Fun. The online betting NZ and the rest of the world offers should always be fun. The moment it’s no longer fun, it’s time for a change. It really doesn’t matter whether you’re betting on the Caulfield Cup or home-town Curling, fun is the most important thing to be had during your sports betting journey.
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Explanation: player statistics (a/b c)
a - games played this season
b - goals scored
c - team position (d - defender, m - midfielder, f - forward, g - goalkeeper).
