Vuelta a Espana: Grand Tour betting preview, free tips & TV details

TV: Eurosport 1, 5.15pm Saturday

Whoever rides into Madrid in three weeks wearing the red leader’s jersey of the Vuelta a Espana can not only lay claim to being the latest Grand Tour winner but also cycling’s last man standing.

A few weeks ago the Vuelta, the Tour and Giro’s less fashionable cousin, was shaping up to be a cracking race with a number of high-profile riders lining up for today’s opening team time-trial in Torrevieja.

As it is, most have pulled out injured or to concentrate on next month’s world championships leaving a baffling conundrum for punter to solve.

Market leaders Primoz Roglic, third when favourite for May’s Giro and the supremely talented, yet increasingly frustrating, Miguel Angel Lopez may never have a better opportunity to shed their Grand Tour maiden tag.

Both will surely win one of the three prestigious three-week tours in time and of the two the longer-priced Lopez makes more appeal.

Roglic will no doubt take time out of Superman on stage ten, a 36km individual time-trial, but this year’s route is peppered with punishing mountain tests – the natural home of Lopez.

The Colombian is a pure climber in every sense and should be inspired by the Tour victory of compatriot Egan Bernal.

He has finished eighth and third on his two previous Vuelta attempts and has a strong Astana team in his service, including Dane Jakob Fuglsang, who has said he is using the race as a warm-up for September’s worlds in Yorkshire.

Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma team are 4-9 to replicate their team
time-trial success from the Tour on stage one.

Recommendation
M A Lopez
2pts 11-4 Betway

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