The 64th Vuelta a España gets underway next Saturday and the official race sponsors, Williamhill.com have unveiled their prices for the Spanish cycling extravaganza.
Hills have installed the local hero, Alejandro Valverde (UCI ProTeam Caisse d’Eparone) as their favourite for the event. The 29 year old has already won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, the Volta Catalunya, and Klasika Primavera this season, and he’s rated an 11-4 (3.75) chance to add his home tour to his list of achievements.
Ivan Basso is the sponsors 9-2 (5.5) second favourite for La Vuelta. The Italian, who rides for the Liquigas team, won the Giro Del Trentino in April and he’s hoping to follow up that success with a victory in the final ‘Grand Tour’ of the European cycling season.
Another Spaniard who is prominent in the sponsors betting is the Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Samuel Sanchez. The Oviedo native finished third in the 2007 Vuelta, and he is rated a 6-1 shot to go two places better in the 2009 renewal.
Andy Schleck is rated an 8-1 (9.0) chance to follow up his impressive performance in the Tour De France with a victory in Spain. The 24 year old finished second behind Alberto Contador in Le Tour and that performance earned him the Young Rider prize at the same event. Schleck’s older brother Franck is also a successful cyclist, while his father Johnny Schleck was a previous participant in La Vuelta.
Robert Gesink (UCI ProTeam Rabobank) is also 8-1 (9.0) to win the race. The Dutchman’s Tour De France ended early after he broke his wrist during a crash on stage 5, and having rested he’ll now be hoping for better luck in La Vuelta.
Other riders who are prominent in Williamhill.com’s betting include the Silence-Lotto team leader Cadel ‘Cuddles’ Evans who has been backed from 20-1 (21.0) into 12-1 (13.0) and the Galician cyclist Ezequiel Mosquera, an 11-1 (12.0) shot for La Vuelta.
David Hood for Hills told Bettingpro this morning
“With the likes of Contador, Armstrong and Wiggins taking a rest from this year’s La Vuelta, the event has a more open look about it and anyone wanting a bet could find some real value in this year’s Tour. As well as the money for ‘Cuddles’ we have also seen some good support for Robet Gesink (now 8-1 (9.0) from 10-1 (11.0)) and a bit for 2006 winner Alexander Vinokourov at 20-1 (21.0) to bounce back again.
Drenthe (Holland) to Madrid – 29th August to 20th September 2009: La Vuelta 2009 (William Hill Bet): 11-4 (3.75) Alejandro Valverde, 9-2 (5.5) Ivan Basso, 7-1 (8.0) Samuel Sanchez, 8-1 (9.0) Andy Schleck, Robert Gesink, 11-1 (12.0) Ezequiel Mosquera, 12-1 (13.0) Cadel Evans, 20-1 (21.0) Alexander Vinokourov, Igor Anton, Joaquin Rodriguez, Jakob Fuglsang, 28-1 (29.0) Juan Angel Gomez Marchante, 33-1 (34.0) Chris Horner,