In this article, I examine the latest cycling odds and make my Giro d’Italia predictions. Considered one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world, the Giro d’Italia takes place over 21 days across over 2,000 miles.
The Giro d’Italia is the first Grand Tour of the cycling season and a solid precursor to the Tour de France in the summer. It’s a picturesque course that navigates through some of the most beautiful landscapes that Italy has to offer.
The updated 2024 Giro d’Italia odds were recently released by the best cycling betting sites. Below, check out my final predictions for the Giro and how I see the 107th edition unfolding.
Giro d’Italia 2024 Odds
The following 2024 Giro d’Italia betting odds are courtesy of Bovada:
RIDER | ODDS |
---|---|
Tadej Pogačar | -450 |
Geraint Thomas | +450 |
Ben O’Connor | +1600 |
Damiano Caruso | +1600 |
Antonio Tiberi | +1800 |
Daniel Martinez | +2000 |
Thymen Arensman | +2000 |
Cian Uijtdebroeks | +2500 |
Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogačar (-450) is the odds-on favorite to win the Giro d’Italia 2024. At his current price, Pogačar has an implied probability of 81.8% to beat out his rivals for the Giro d’Italia crown.
Following Pogačar, Geraint Thomas (+450) is the only rider within shouting distance of the first-time Giro d’Italia rider from Komenda, Slovenia. The implied probability of winning drops off considerably from Pogačar’s 81.8% to Thomas, at 18.2%.
Ben O’Connor (+1600) and Damiano Caruso (+1600) will attempt to keep pace, but oddsmakers don’t have the most faith in either rider being competitive.
Giro d’Italia 2024 Route & Key Info
The Giro d’Italia 2024 is a three-week race qualifying as a Grand Tour event. The race begins in Turin on Saturday, May 4, 2024, and will cover 21 stages before ending in Rome on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
Giro d’Italia 2024 Route Facts:
- 2063.5 miles (about twice the distance from Florida to New York City)
- 140,783-foot altitude gain
- Stage 15 at Manerba del Garda is the longest stage (136.7 Miles)
- Two individual time trials
- Six hill stages
- Seven mountain stages
- Six flat stages
Stage 1 in Turin will see riders travel roughly 89 miles through a series of hills. It’s a relatively simple start, but Stage 2 will quickly separate the top contenders from the pretenders in the mountains near the Sanctuary of Oropa.
The Giro d’Italia 2024 includes seven mountain and six hill stages. Right after the rest day before Stage 21, riders will be tested at Monte Pana and then two more mountain sections before the final destination in Rome.
The difficult mountain climbs and varying weather conditions are the hallmark of the Giro d’Italia. There are more than three miles of elevation gains in the race! Who has the physical and mental fortitude to beat the Giro Italia odds in 2024?
Top Favorites For Giro 2024
Jonas Vingegaard’s absence in the Giro d’Italia 2024 opens the door wide open for Pogačar. The defending Tour de France champion will be unavailable due to a collapsed lung.
Let’s check out the top favorites at sports betting sites and then delve into my Giro d’Italia 2024 best bets afterward:
Tadej Pogačar (-450)
Despite the immense success of Pogačar in his career, he has never participated in a Giro d’Italia.
Pogačar has always been committed to preparing for the Tour de France, but he is confident in pulling off the double. With Vingegaard sidelined, it’s a better time than ever for Pogačar to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year.
Additionally, the two-time Tour de France winner is in terrific form. He is well-equipped to go the distance and pull away from the field.
Pogačar is coming off a dominant performance in the 18th Strade Bianche for UAE Team Emirates in early March. In a race where Pogačar was in a class of his own, he pulled away from the chase group without breaking a sweat.
With more than a three-minute lead over his rivals, the champion had fun with the crowd, soaking up the moment while celebrating in the final section of the race1!
Pogačar promised that he would attack the Monte Sante Marie climb and did so without any complications. The peloton folded their cards and conceded victory to Pogačar at this juncture.
In stunning form right now, Pogačar is the clear online sports betting favorite to raise the Endless Trophy. Currently, Pogačar is the top-ranked rider in the world with 6.555 UCI points2.
Geraint Thomas (+450)
Cardiff’s 37-year-old Geraint Thomas is nearing retirement and would like to add another major win to his resume.
The 2018 Tour de France winner and double-gold Olympic medalist is getting respect from oddsmakers heading into the Giro d’Italia. Without Vingegaard racing in this event, Thomas’ Giro Italia 2024 odds are easily the second-shortest.
Last year, Thomas performed well at the Giro d’Italia 2023. Thomas went the distance, but he couldn’t hold off a surging Primož Roglič. In a thriller in the final stage in Rome, Roglič beat Thomas by a 14-second gap to claim the Endless Trophy3.
In 2024, Roglič is preparing for a big run in the Tour de France, so will be bypassing a title defense in Italy. Will this give Thomas a better chance of coming out on top?
According to Thomas’ world No. 29 ranking, he has a bit of work to do to compete with Pogačar. However, the wily veteran has shown to like this course, and he is expected to have extra motivation to finish strong with retirement right around the corner.
Despite Thomas’ shortcomings, are you willing to make him your top Giro d’Italia 2024 pick?
Knowledge of the Italian course and confidence are his best attributes, but it will still likely take an uncharacteristic performance from Pogačar for Thomas to win.
Best Sleepers For The Giro d’Italia 2024
I recommend adding a few dark horses to your Giro d’Italia picks in 2024. Please, understand that it’s improbable that these riders will win. But, for betting on the Giro d’Italia 2024, they are worth a small bet.
- Ben O’Connor (+1600) – With several of the top-ranked players not racing, aside from Pogačar, Ben O’Connor might have a small chance. In 2020, O’Connor won a stage at the Giro d’Italia. This course isn’t unfamiliar territory. In February, O’Connor was in impressive form with a win in the 2024 Vuelta a Murcia. He also finished a respectable 2nd in the UAE Tour in February.
- Thymen Arensman (+2000) – 24-year-old Dutchman Thymen Arensman is coming off a confidence-building performance at the Giro d’Italia 2023. In his first appearance in the race, the UCI WorldTeam Ineos Grenadiers rider finished a well-respected 6th. With another year of experience under his belt, Arensman could be ready to fly!
- Eddie Dunbar (+6600) – Directly behind Arensman, Eddie Dunbar finished 7th in the Giro D’Italia 2023. Dunbar returns to the event with a chance to move up from 7th to the lead chase group. Dunbar and the rest of the field will likely be chasing Pogačar, but if the Slovenian has an accident, Dunbar could enter the equation in Rome. At +6600, Dunbar’s odds to win the Giro d’Italia 2024 are worth a sprinkle.
Giro d’Italia 2024 Prediction & Betting Pick
For my Giro d’Italia predictions, there appears to be one clear route this race will take. To put things into perspective, if you aren’t the biggest cycling fan, do you follow Formula 1 betting?
Max Verstappen is the odds-on favorite every race. He is also winning most of the time if he doesn’t have a mechanical issue or crash in 2024. The same applies to Pogačar in the Giro d’Italia. If Pogačar stays on the course and doesn’t wipe out, he is expected to cruise to a victory!
Pogačar ’s form in the Strade Bianche 2024 was fairly telling. What’s more, the 25-year-old Slovenian is racing against mediocre competition. The one rider (Vingegaard) who could have challenged Pogačar is not participating due to an injury.
If Pogačar doesn’t prepare, or he takes his competitors lightly, an upset could develop. Second, Pogačar crashing due to losing focus or poor weather conditions could end his bid.
Otherwise, the surging cycling star is well on his way to winning this race in dominating fashion. I would have liked a better price than -450 on Pogačar, but his chances are undeniable.
Who Will Win The Giro d’Italia 2024?
I am confident in Pogačar hoisting the Endless Trophy at the end of Stage 21 in Rome. However, who do you think will win the Giro d’Italia 2024? If you have a strong opinion about the race, Bovada is ready to accept your bets.
With odds available on more than 30 cyclists for betting on the Giro Italia 2024, bettors can lock in one wager or spread out their bankroll on several riders. My Giro d’Italia 2024 best bets include Pogačar, and a few upset candidates.
I took advantage of a generous 50% match bonus of up to $250 to bet on the Giro d’Italia at Bovada. Alternatively, consider depositing with cryptocurrency for an even larger match bonus of up to $750 to bet on the Giro d’Italia!
Sources
Strade Bianche 2024 | ProCyclingStats.com. Retrieved From “https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/strade-bianche/2024”
Ranking | FirstCycling.com. Retrieved From “https://firstcycling.com/ranking.php?y=2024”
Rankings of the Giro d’Italia 2023 | Giro d’Italia. Retrieved From “https://www.giroditalia.it/en/classifiche/”