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18.The Best Cycle Races to Bet on Internationally
In 2024, online sports betting in Europe is projected to generate $17.14 billion, underscoring this pastime’s popularity across the continent. Whether in person or via an online sportsbook, like those found through sites like casinos.com, sports betting has proven to be a thrilling way to add excitement to any game or major event.
The idea of placing a wager on a sporting event is most likely to bring to mind football games or horse races, but sports betting can also encompass many other sports, including cycling. If you’re a fan of cycling but also want a cash injection by betting on your favourite cycling team or cyclist, these international races should be on your wagering radar.
1. Tour de France
The Tour de France has been held every year since 1903, with the exceptions of World War I (1915-1918) and World War II (1940-1946). The race’s organisers even found a way to hold the competition amid the COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns.
Typically held in July over three weeks, it has a reputation for being one of the most challenging cycling races in the world; because of this, it attracts the world’s top cyclists and cycling fans. It is a UCI WorldTour race and is one of three cycling Grand Tours (the other two are the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España).
While the tour primarily takes cyclists through France, the race often routes the course through multiple other countries, which have included Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Spain. The tour has faced controversy around the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The most controversial drug scandal was linked to Lance Armstrong, which resulted in him being stripped of his Tour de France titles.
2. Giro d’Italia
Giro d’Italia, or the “tour of Italy,” is another prestigious cycling race with a rich history. It was held for the first time in 1909, following in the footsteps of the Tour de France. Like the French tour, the Giro d’Italia has taken place every year since its debut, with the exception of the two World Wars. It’s another three-week race and takes place each May in Italy.
3. Vuelta a España
The first tour of the Vuelta a España was in 1934, and like the other tours on this list, it’s become a yearly event. It is held in high regard in the cycling industry, with prestige comparable to the Tour de France. It’s one of the longer cycling tours, spanning three weeks from the end of August to mid-September. It takes place in Spain and encompasses many cities and towns, including Madrid, Seville, and Granada.
4. Santos Tour Down Under
Another UCI WorldTour race is the Santos Tour Down Under, held, as the name implies, in Australia. The race’s route runs through Adelaide and South Australia and, like the Tour de France, invites the world’s top teams to participate. It has been held annually since 1999 and is now the kick-off event of the World Tour each year in January. It is the first UCI WorldTour event held outside Europe.
5. Tour du Suisse
Tour du Suisse was first held in 1933 and is typically held just before the Tour de France in June. It’s an eight-day event that challenges cyclists with varying elevations and challenging cycling conditions that, unfortunately, played a role in a fatal crash in 2023.
The Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder was severely injured in a crash during the fifth stage of the tour and succumbed to his injuries the following day. Out of respect for the cyclist, the day’s racing events were cancelled, and the tour’s cyclists rode a 20-km tribute to him, with spectators holding up flowers as they reached the end of their ride. Though this was a devastating event for which the Tour du Suisse was criticised, the tour for 2024 has carried on as scheduled—and with intense competition.
6. Paris-Nice
The Paris-Nice tour, also known as “The Sun’s Race,” is another major cycling event held in France. It’s less prestigious and lengthy than the Grand Tour held in the country, spanning only eight days and remaining within France’s borders. It’s been held annually since 1933, usually in March, and, like many other races, is considered a proving ground in preparation for the Tour de France.
7. Critérium du Dauphiné
Typically held in June over a period of eight days, the Critérium du Dauphiné has been held annually since 1976. It was previously known as the “Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré” or “Dauphiné Libéré” but changed its name after the main sponsor for the event and organiser changed. The race route covers towns and villages in France, like Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule and Saint-Germain-Laval, with the majority of the route being hilly and mountainous, challenging cyclists and helping them gear up for Grand Tour races.
8. UCI Track World Championships
The UCI Track World Championships are unique in this list; unlike the other races, this event takes place on a track rather than roads through cities or towns. It’s still a UCI WorldTour event and challenges individual cyclists and teams in different ways. While the other races hold the appeal of unique locations and new challenges, this race allows spectators to appreciate the skills and capabilities of the athletes in a more controlled setting.
Conclusion
Whether you follow one tour or are a die-hard fan of all major cycling events, these eight races allow you to celebrate the sport—and potentially win big—around the world; all you have to do is find the right sportsbook.