How to Bet on Cycling
Different Types of Cycling Sports
People into cycling worldwide dig different kinds of this sport, from fast-paced road cycling to heart-pounding mountain biking adventures. Here’s a rundown of some top cycling scenes.
Road Cycling
This is like the original form of cycling, super popular and recognized everywhere. Basically, you’re cruising on paved roads, covering crazy long distances. Races come in all sizes, from quick ones around city blocks to mega ones like the Tour de France. Athletes either go solo or roll with a crew, showing off their endurance, speed, and tactical game. Races mix it up with tough climbs, flat stretches, and epic downhill rides. Strategy is key, with riders chilling in a pack to save energy and then busting out killer moves at the right moment. These road cycling events have fans worldwide hyped up, with fierce competition and scenic views along the way.
Track Cycling
Track cycling goes down on these super cool indoor velodromes with those steeply banked oval tracks. You’ve got your sprint races for the short-haul speedsters and the endurance beasts tackling the brutal 4,000-meter individual pursuit.
These athletes bring the heat with explosive power, mad skills, and some serious strategy as they zip around that oval, hitting some seriously impressive speeds. Cycling track betting offers you a chance to bet on the cycling track action for some nail-biting head-to-head showdowns where riders fight for position, pulling off slick moves to get ahead.
Then there’s the keirin and team pursuit events, adding even more hype and showing off that sweet teamwork and coordination. If you’re into heart-pounding intensity and pure adrenaline races, track cycling is where it’s at for those of us craving fast-paced action and tight finishes.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is all about immersing yourself in rugged, untamed nature while getting an extreme adrenaline rush. It’s tackling steep climbs, gnarly descents, rocky paths, and lush forest trails – showing off your mad bike handling skills and insane endurance levels.
The competitive scene is super intense. You’ve got cross-country racing where riders go hard through diverse terrain for miles. Then there are the heart-pounding downhill races famous for those crazy high-speed descents that’ll make you pee a little. But wait, there’s more! The cross-country eliminator is a freakin’ sprint showdown guaranteed to get your blood pumping. And the mountain bike freestyle comps? Totally mind-blowing – those guys defy gravity.
Mountain biking is a siren’s call for adventure junkies and adrenaline fiends alike. You’re out there pushing your athletic abilities to the max, making split-second decisions, and overcoming insane trail obstacles. It’s about getting that natural high from connecting with nature while simultaneously terrifying yourself. An epic balance of strategy and straight-up craziness that you can brag to your friends about later over avocado toast and craft beer.
Types of Bets
Here are some common types of bets you might encounter:
Race Winner
The Race Winner bet is a straight-up classic in cycling gambling. It’s stupidly simple – just call which cyclist is gonna blaze across the finish line first after crushing the entire mad distance of huge races like the Tour de France or Giro d’Italia. You’re backing the overall championship winner from start to finish line. An absolute thrill ride watching your pick battle it out over the whole damn race.
Top 3 Finish
The Top 3 Finish market gives you more wiggle room. With this bet, you get to put your money on your favorite rider, scoring a podium finish in the top three spots. It doesn’t matter if they snag first, second, or third as long as they live that champagne shower dream.
Top-10 Finish
Want to cover your bases even more? The Top-10 Finish bet is about predicting your cyclist’s place somewhere in the elite top 10 overall. You’ve got higher odds of cashing in, though with a bit less epic payout potential.
Stage Betting
Then there’s Stage Betting, which keeps the excitement pumping stage after stage. In huge multi-stage tours, you get to gamble on who’s taking each individual stage win – from flat-out sprints to soul-crushing mountain grinds. There is a whole new thrill at every stage.
Futures Betting
Finally, Futures bets let you call your shot on who’s reigning supreme the entire next season – grand tours, world championships, you name it. It’s your chance to stay hyped on the cycling scene all year, riding that adrenaline high with your pick while they chase those rainbows.
King of the Mountain
When it comes to the King of the Mountain market, it’s all about predicting which beast of a cyclist is gonna rack up the most points or summit the highest peaks in those brutal mountain stages. This is where the true climbing specialists get to flex their ability to conquer insane elevations and terrain.
Young Rider Betting
Don’t sleep on the young guns, though. Young Rider Betting lets you put your money on the best performer under a certain age – usually 25 or 26 for the big races. It’s a window into the future cycling legends, letting you spot emerging talent and potential champions before they pop off.
Points Classification
For the Points Classification bet, you’re trying to call which rider is gonna be an absolute savage and rake in the most points from intermediate sprints and high-stage finishes throughout the whole race. These are the sprinting masters and consistent front-of-the-pack finishers.
Team Classification
The Team Classification switches the focus to, well, the teams. You get to bet on which squad is gonna collectively dominate a race based on the combined times of their top riders. It highlights vital team chemistry and cohesion on the road.
Time Trial Winner
Finally, there’s predicting the Time Trial Winner — a pure test of a rider’s speed, endurance, and slick aerodynamics over an individual race against the clock. There is no drafting, just sheer power and human engine output on flat or rolling courses.
Breakaway Betting
For the thrill-seekers, there’s Breakaway Betting. This is where you try to call the rider or riders who are gonna make a crazy break from the main pack and stay out front for a solid chunk of the race. It’s an exciting cat-and-mouse game as you track the breakaway dynamos and whether they can defy the peloton chasers.
Race Head-to-Head
Bringing some direct competition, Race Head-to-Head betting lets you pick which of two chosen cyclists will straight up beat the other in a stage or overall race finish. It doesn’t matter what their final positions are; it just depends on who edges out who in their own personal battle on the road. The head-to-head analysis of each rider’s strengths, tactics, and past performances adds strategy.
Race Top Nationality
For some national pride, Race Top Nationality betting is where you put your money on which country’s rider will take the top step. It internationalizes your rooting interests as you back the strongest cycling nations and athletes repping your homeland.
Race Specials
And if you want to get ultra-niche and creative, Race Specials cover all the unique side bets for particular races. Maybe you wager on how many stage wins a team can rack up, who’ll be the first to abandon, or how many breakaway attempts on a certain stage. These specialized markets available on the best betting site for cycling let you drill down with your predictions.
Most Popular Cycling Competitions
Cycling boasts a rich tapestry of competitions, ranging from prestigious road races to thrilling mountain biking events. Here are some of the most popular cycling competitions worldwide:
Tour de France
The Tour de France is straight-up cycling’s biggest showdown. This epic three-week sufferfest, dating back to 1903, is the most prestigious of the three Grand Tours. Originally a newspaper promo stunt, it’s now an annual summer staple where the pros get pushed to their limits.
The route changes yearly but always brings the pain – I’m talking thousands of kilometers mixing flat stretches, soul-crushing mountain climbs, and white-knuckle time trials where it’s just you vs. the clock. The iconic yellow jersey is cycling’s ultimate flex, with every rider thirsting for that winner’s rainbow. Past legends like Maurice Garin and modern-day monsters like Tadej Pogačar have etched their names in Tour immortality.
This June, the 2024 edition kicks off a fresh battlefield across Italy, San Marino, Monaco, and finally, France itself. A new king will be crowned when the peloton hits the Champs-Élysées finale in Paris.
Giro d’Italia
The Giro d’Italia brings a whole new level of suffering through Italy’s insane landscape. Born in 1909 as a newspaper marketing ploy, it’s now cemented as one of the prestigious Grand Tour trio alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
Every May/June, the routing puts riders through the wringer across over 3,000 kilometers. I’m talking gut-punch climbs in the Dolomites, Apennines, Alps – you name it. Not to mention those white-knuckle time trials and brutal gravel sectors reminiscent of Strade Bianche. The coveted pink jersey is the badge of honor here.
Legends like Fausto Coppi and Eddy Merckx have reigned supreme, while in 2023, Primož Roglič snatched pink in a last-second mountaintop time trial heist. The 2024 edition mapped for early May promises even more torture – 42,900 meters of vertical gain with six wicked summit finishes and the dreaded Stelvio climb. Glory awaits the strongest.
Vuelta a España
Rounding out the Grand Tours is the Vuelta a España, Spanish cycling’s biggest annual party. Inspired by its French and Italian counterparts, the first Vuelta rolled out in 1935 before a few war-forced hiatuses. But since 1955, it’s been a yearly three-week battle for the ages.
What started as a domestic showdown has blown up into a global smackdown. The route hits the road each August/September, serving up over 3,000 kilometers of Spain’s craziest terrain – I’m talking mountain slogs, blistering flats, you name it. The peloton has transformed from all-Spanish to stacked with elite WorldTour teams and wildcard entries.
Cycling legends like Felice Gimondi and Chris Froome have reigned, while young talents like America’s own Sepp Kuss are setting the pace. The 2024 edition kicks off in Lisbon with Iberian hills, mountaintop arrivals, and a Madrid finale – another insane showcase for the world’s most badass cyclists.
UCI Road World Championships
When it comes to crowning the absolute best road cyclists on earth, it all goes down at the UCI Road World Championships. This annual showdown has been the real deal since first going down in 1921 in Copenhagen.
Over the years, legends like Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, and modern gods like Peter Sagan have absolutely smashed the competition to snatch those iconic rainbow jerseys. Sure, Lance’s stripped titles stained the history books, but even without him, the level of competition was insane.
Every September, the world’s elite riders converge to embark on an all-out battle royale for rainbow supremacy. The 2024 edition is hitting Zurich, Switzerland, from September 21-29th, so buckle up for some of the craziest road racing action you’ve ever witnessed.
That’s just a taste of the countless epic cycling competitions going down worldwide every year. Whether it’s grand tours, single-day classics, or these quick-hit world championship battles, there’s no shortage of mind-blowing action for true cycling fanatics. The courses are brutal, the rivalries are intense, and the level of athletic greatness on display is simply unreal.
Paris-Roubaix
This one-day sufferfest, aptly named “The Hell of the North”, is cycling’s most iconic testament to grit and endurance. Since 1896, this prestigious Monument has been destroying pros with its brutal 257 km (160 miles) route through northern France.
The soul-crusher? Pavé sections – stretches of bone-rattling cobblestones that’ll rattle your teeth out. Flats, mechanicals, crashes – it’s all part of the brutal Roubaix experience. Cycling legends like Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, and the indomitable Tom Boonen (4 wins) have conquered this beast.
With the 2024 edition on April 7th sticking to the gut-punch cobbled sectors, a fresh batch of hardmen are lining up to etch their names into Roubaix lore by surviving this epic monument.
Milan-San Remo
“La Classicissima” is a day of munted pain for the ages. Established way back in 1907, this one-day Italian Monument clocks in at a staggering 300km (186 miles) from Milan to San Remo. I’m talking rolling hills, soul-crushing climbs, and a blistering final descent to the line.
The race has hosted legendary battles, with Eddy Merckx’s record five wins leading a stacked list of champions alongside Gino Bartali, Sean Kelly, and more. Every March, the world’s elite riders converge for this iconic monument.
For 2024, on March 16th, the start exceptionally shifts to Pavia before rejoining the classic route to San Remo. With that new twist and a stacked field, this year’s edition is set for an epic showdown.
Tour of Flanders
“Flanders’ Finest” is straight-up one of cycling’s biggest party days. This spring classic first popped off in 1913 and has become a pilgrimage for anyone who’s anyone in the pro peloton.
Spanning 280 km of pure Belgian punishment, riders conquer relentless climbs and bone-shaking cobbled sectors that’ll loosen every filler. The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg are two notorious launchpads for race-deciding attacks from the hard nutters.
Legends like Merckx, Museeuw, and Boonen have reigned supreme here. For 2024, on March 31st, the race restarts from Antwerp, with Pogačar’s heir-apparent aiming to nail glory on that historic Oudenaarde finish.
The day before, amateur cyclists get to sample the full-crit sauce at “We Ride Flanders” – a chance to soak up the electric spring vibes while getting carthorses on Flanders’ hallowed roads.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
This Monument, aka “La Doyenne”, has been cycling’s most savage Belgian classic since first dropping in 1892. The 250km route through the Ardennes is a nightmare crammed with 11 brutal climbs.
I’m talking iconic ascents like La Redoute and Côte de Saint-Nicolas, where the real hammerheads make their moves to splinter the peloton and set up solo glory or a mass sprint royale to the finish.
The list of legends to tame the “Old Lady” is stacked, with Eddy Merckx scoring a record five wins and Sean Kelly right behind at 4. After the young gun who dominated in 2023, another future great is waiting to etch their name in April 2024.
Olympic Games
Since the modern Games were revived in 1896, cycling has brought its unique flavors of suffering to the Summer Olympics. It’s a true test of an athlete’s fortitude across distinct disciplines, from road races to the track.
The road events are all about pacing, tactics, and survival while practically road-rashed, battling terrain and winds over crazy distances. Icons like Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, and Chris Froome have thrived here.
Then you’ve got the velodrome insanity – a steeply-banked oval where it’s pedal to the absolute metal. Events like the sprint and team pursuit demand short bursts of ungodly power, while the omnium separates the true all-rounders. Bradley Wiggins and Kristina Vogel are just a few legends who shine on the boards.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics looming, the world’s elite is primed to author new chapters of iconic Olympic cycling glory across these merciless disciplines. As training and tech evolve, future Games will raise the bar for two-wheeled superhuman feats.
Riders and Teams
Here are the top 10 rankings for riders based on their performance in cycling events:
The Best Rider Ranking (2024)
The battle for best rider in 2024 has been an epic showdown between some of cycling’s biggest generational talents. The outright beast Tadej Pogačar from UAE Team Emirates is topping the rankings, locking down 3219 points with his insane all-round ability.
Breathing down his neck in second is the flying machine Remco Evenepoel from Soudal Quick-Step, accumulating 2794 points through sheer determination. Rounding out the podium is Jonas Vingegaard with 2715 points, showcasing why he’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s crown jewel.
Want the full rundown on these absolute legends? Here’s how the top rankings are shaping up:
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Pogačar Tadej |
UAE Team Emirates |
3219 |
2 |
Evenepoel Remco |
Soudal – Quick Step |
2794 |
3 |
Vingegaard Jonas |
Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
2715 |
4 |
Roglič Primož |
BORA – hansgrohe |
2526 |
5 |
van Aert Wout |
Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
2402 |
6 |
Alaphilippe Julian |
Deceuninck – Quick Step |
2350 |
7 |
Carapaz Richard |
INEOS Grenadiers |
2300 |
8 |
Bernal Egan |
INEOS Grenadiers |
2280 |
9 |
Hirschi Marc |
UAE Team Emirates |
2200 |
10 |
Schachmann Maximilian |
BORA – hansgrohe |
2100 |
Best Cycling Team Rankings 2024
In the battle of the super squads, UAE Team Emirates have asserted total dominance atop the 2024 team rankings, amassing 2216 points through laser-focused teamwork and tactical mastery.
The diesel-powered Team Visma | Lease a Bike is a formidable second place with 1640 points, optimizing their roster to squeeze every drop of performance. Decathlon — Ag2r La Mondiale’s 1540 point haul sees these road warriors gritting out a remarkable third.
Are you curious who’s flexing their horsepower across the rankings? Check out this year’s full team scoreboard:
Rank |
Team Name |
Points |
Country |
1 |
UAE Team Emirates |
2216 |
UAE |
2 |
Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
1640 |
NED |
3 |
Decathlon – Ag2r La Mondiale |
1540 |
FRA |
4 |
Lotto – Dstny |
1220 |
BEL |
5 |
Groupama – FDJ |
1197 |
FRA |
6 |
Lidl – Trek |
1181 |
USA |
7 |
Soudal – Quick Step |
1139 |
BEL |
8 |
Ineos Grenadiers |
1125 |
GBR |
9 |
Intermarché – Wanty |
1065 |
BEL |
10 |
Movistar Team |
1051 |
ESP |
Whether it’s the elite riders or stacked super teams, the level of competition in 2024 has been insane. These rankings are the product of some mind-blowing performances – a true showcase of cycling’s greatest talents, leaving it all on the road.
Cycling Betting Tips
Cycling betting tips and predictions serve as invaluable tools for both new and experienced bettors alike. They offer insights into potential outcomes of races and can guide you toward making informed bets.
Knowledge is Power
Getting cerebral with cycling betting means doing your homework upfront. Scope out the best online bookies and get a solid grip on all the different race types – from Monuments to Grand Tours. The Wise move is picking one discipline to zero in on initially before expanding your brain cyclone. Also, don’t forget to research and make your bets only on the best cycling betting online.
In the betting game, intel is everything. Go full anorak digesting all the deets on upcoming races and individual riders. Having that insider knowledge could be your hidden motor to elevating your predictions into the big ring.
Don’t Forget The Underdogs
In the betting game, intel is everything. Go full anorak digesting all the deets on upcoming races and individual riders. That insider knowledge could be your hidden motor to elevating your predictions into the big ring.
Stay Rooted in Data, Not Narratives
While past performances don’t guarantee future success, a rider’s CV still paints a solid picture. Whether it’s elite consistency or track specialties like climbing or sprinting, their history often forecasts things to come. So, study those body of work receipts closely.
The Weather X-Factor
Don’t disregard how wind, rain, or heat can shake up a race situation. Riders have their strengths – like climbers in uphill slogs or sprinters with crosswind savvy. Scope those forecasts to see who gets an elemental advantage.
Analyzing the Team Dynamics
Cycling is a true team game at the highest level. Get familiar with each squad’s strategies and how teammates operate those well-oiled trains. Their chemistry and selfless riding can influence podium outcomes beyond individual talent.
Don’t Follow the Crowd Blindly
Use expert picks and betting guides as a loose framework, not holy scripture. Always back up their analysis against your own research and gut instincts when pulling the trigger on wagers. Think like a free radical, not a blind follower.
Start Slow, Build Confidence
Start at a sensible level when first jumping into cycling betting while absorbing all the subtle intricacies. You can ramp up the stakes and experiment with fresh strategies as your expertise grows. Crawl before you bomb those monster descents.
Study the Expert Insights
For next-level insights, tune into the commentary from seasoned cycling brainiacs. Their expert breakdowns, podcasts, and articles offer unique angles you may have missed when preparing picks.
Peaking at the Right Time
Don’t ignore how a rider’s current form and fitness could impact race day. If they’ve been slicing through the field lately or are recovering from a recent injury, their current form and fitness paint a solid picture of their ability to unleash hell from the gun.
Race Strategy and Course Profile
Analyze every race route’s profile like a hawk studying prey. Different terrains, like sharp climbs, technical descents, and dragstrip flats, punish riders in distinct ways based on their specialties. Scouting that course blueprint? It’s the total key.
Mine That Data for Hidden Gems
Analytics and stats lurk everywhere in modern cycling. Tap into historical trends and dig up sneaky patterns in who thrives at certain races or course types. Those juicy data crumbs could lead straight to betting pay dirt.
Stay Plugged Into Live Coverage
When the actual racing hits, stay glued to every shift in the live coverage. Commentators can drop knowledge bombs about shifting tactics, team strategies, or random mechanical calamities that savvy bettors should pounce on.
With this mentality of blending intensive research, respecting race dynamics, and using your intuition, you’ll cycle at the front of the betting peloton in no time.