Guide to Cycling Betting

Sprint races test the speed of racers over short distances on courses ranging from 250m to 1000m in length depending on the race. These events often only feature a small number of racers, sometimes up to four but more often only two racers competing head to head. Unlike some other races, the bikers start in a line together rather than staggered across the starting line.

Scratch races are similar to sprint races in that all the racers begin the race lined up at the starting line. However, these races take place over longer distances, favouring endurance riders. Cyclists have to complete several circuits around the track before completing the race.

Points races feature a large number of cyclists competing over a long-distance race. Over the course of this race, points are awarded to racers for completing certain sprints within the race with the fastest possible time. In most formats of this type, points are awarded to the top four finishers in each sprint.

In pursuit racing, cyclists begin on the opposite side of the track at the same time. The object of the race is for the trailing team to catch up to the leading one for the win. There are both team and individual races that use this format.

Unlike the events listed above, time trial races see competitors ride through the track on their own rather than alongside other racers. Rather than trying to pass other racers and finish first, cyclists instead compete to finish the course in the shortest possible time.

These relay races involve teams of multiple racers competing around the track. These riders swap in and out of the race at predetermined intervals, with the objective being to gain the highest number of laps on the other teams competing.

Races in this format begin with a speed-controlled start behind a pace-setting bike. The pace-setting bike gets gradually faster and faster with each lap until departing the course for the final two laps.

Whereas the above formats only feature one race, an omnium race involves a series of races over the course of multiple days. These events involve several different races of the types listed above, with the winner being the rider who scores the most points across all the different races.

As the name suggests, these short term races take place all in one day. The best time for completing the set course at the conclusion of that day wins the race.

Longer format races take place over several days rather than all in one running. The winner of these multiple-stage events is determined by factoring in the racers’ performances over each stage.

Just like in track races, some road cycling races don’t have all of the competitors run the race at the same time. Instead, the racers compete to see who will complete the course in the fastest time rather than competing with each other directly.

1. Look at the individual cyclists’ form. Some may be stronger over long distances; others may be good at sprint stages.
2. Find out about the teams. What cyclists do they have in their line-up? Look at the team’s record in similar events. What have traditionally been their strong and weak points?
3. Keep up-to-date with any injury concerns that riders may have.
4. Look for a local weather forecast just before an event. Changeable weather has been known to produce shock results.
5. Be careful with different race types. Tours are different to time trials and oval racing, and so is associated betting.
6. Study news of the competition. Identify what strategies each team are likely to use.
7. Don’t count on in-play betting on cycling. As most tournaments are run over several days or weeks, there is abundant scope for in-play betting. The complexity of the event is likely to change as it progresses, and the odds being offered will change accordingly. Keeping pace with developments as a race progress can open up some worthwhile bets. Almost all sportsbooks allow for betting throughout an event.