Cycling Betting

10/08/08

Evans Favorite in Tour de France Odds

The Pyrenees stage of the 2008 Tour de France is now over, and those with some petrol left in the tank can look forward to three consecutive stages of flat stage riding through south-eastern France, beginning with today's 12th stage 168km (103 mi.) ride from Lavelanet to Narbonne.

Cadel leads the charge
Pre-competition favorite Cadel Evans remains the odds-on winner to take the tour. He goes into the second half of the 21-stage event wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey), worn each race by the current overall leader.

Evans, who took the yellow jersey from Dutchman Kim Kirchen during the Pyrenees stage of the tour, is 4/5 at Ladbrokes to become the first Aussie to ever take the world's most prestigious cycling event. He is followed by Russian Dennis Menchov, 9/2, and Riccardo Ricco (Italy), Carlos Sastre (Spain) and Frank Schleck (Luxembourg) at 9/1.

No other rider is given a serious chance of winning by the bookmakers at this stage.

Other odds
With just four cyclists considered a serious chance of challenging Evans' supremacy, it's worth having a look at other forms of odds betting being offered on this year's Tour de France.

With the competitors set to return to the mountains on Sunday for three days of intense riding through the Alps in the French-Italian border area, the competition for "King of the Mountain" is sure to heat up.

Riccardo Ricco, who currently wears the polka dot jersey as the leader of the mountain classification competition, is the favorite at 2/5. He is followed by Spaniard David de la Fuente Rasilla, 4/1. Evans, rated ninth in the current mountain rankings, is an equal seventh-favorite at 33/1.

(c) 2008Online Casino Reports

06/07/08

Tour de Pez: Le Grand Depart!

Time to join the heaving throngs of fans, technical staff, organizers, hangers-on and hangers-out with a desire to pass through the Village Depart's gates and into cycling celeb heaven. It's the Grand Depart of Le Tour de France!

If a fault line opened up in the ground right outside those barriers at around 9.15 this morning, so many people would be lost they'd have to restart pro racing from scratch. I saw, in the distance, Christian Prudhomme beaming as he glided forward to open the gates with an organizational flourish - then it was like some Biblical migration as a horde stormed down to the holiest of holies.

This being my inaugural visit to the Tour, I cleared it with the Pez to just hang out in the Village Depart to soak up the atmosphere. Not knowing exactly how everything would pan out, I was up and on the road early, gone from Morlaix by 7.45am. Luckily, things were running with the normal Tour efficiency that I've found so far and I was guided to a miraculous parking spot a bidon throw from the start line.

It's a pretty impressive setting to kick off the world's biggest annual sporting extravagana - seaside setting and castle ramparts, and a howling tailwind to push the riders on their way and make life awkward for those manning the stands.

There were familiar faces all around as former riders like Cedric Vasseur (riders' rep), Richard Virenque (Eurosport), Pascal Lino and even Raymond Poulidour (Tour workers now) were there to press the flesh.

For me, great though it was to see those guys, it was the fun of the ordinary people that caught me up. The couple filling in their betting forms at the PMU stand, the kids with Breton flags and even painted faces.

Passion for cycling isn't dying yet - especially here in one of the sport's real heartlands. It's great that the younger fans get to fall in love with the Tour in their home region while they display a passion for their homes and culture.

Families of all demographic categories, kids done up in (mostly) Bouyges Telecom kit, young and old, and even the people normally 'too cool for school' were getting caught up in the excitement as buses rolled up and riders started to meander to the sign-on.

Young kids racing up and down looking for autographs, signatures all over caps, shirts and flags. Veteran fans looking a little teary eyed as they got a moment of Poulidor's time. The great man smiled, nodded and handed out cards from a massive stack of cards that he had to keep replenishing.

There were fans everywhere... jammed against the barriers in front of the stage, and all the way around the team buses. Lots of people desperate to see anything move in the Bouyges Telecom bus - admittedly fewer outside the Euskaltel bus - but their fans will be showing up in droves about a week from now.

Aside from snapping pics of the stars, I got a chance to hang out with Hubert, the press relations man for Vittel and sample the fine coffee and doughnuts they offered. Better go back for water tomorrow though as I was distracted by Miss Sport Belgium and her pals walking in.

I got to carry out my journalistic mission by having my picture taken with women who I probably wouldn't even dare speak to in 'normal' life. But this is the Tour so it's allowed... I think. Someone I love is rolling her eyes back home in Scotland.

In between times, a quick slot on BBC Radio's Gaelic station, live from the Tour, to put in my tip for the win - I went for Valverde, so I'm 100% right so far! But it's not so easy to concentrate when the tannoy is belting out Europop like Ace of Base - 15 years on from their peak, I don't know if that qualifies as classic rock yet.

Of course, once the riders were off, things quieted down pretty quickly, and it was a case of a meander down to the seafront for a crepe or two before jumping in the car again. There's a lot of driving to be done, and I'm now holed up in Pontivy, which gets a visit from the Tour tomorrow, en route to Saint Brieuc.

Not wanting to smash myself in completely, I opted to skip the trek all the way to Plumelec. And now that this is posted, I'm off to read the race manual for tomorrow's journey.

One of the girls advertising an eco campaign for the Morbihan region has spent her last few days dressed as a giant carrot. I asked what her name was and she'd only confirm it as 'Carrot'. Maybe it actually was, though....

29/05/08

Mullingar ready for big turnout

The first road championship of the year, the 'B' Championship, takes place in Mullingar on Sunday and despite clashing with the FBD Ras, organiser Mark Horohoe of Lakeside Wheelers is confident that he'll get the numbers.

"The majority of the 'Bs' will not be in the Ras, so they'll have competiton here in Westmeath. Also we are staging round four of the Ladies National League which by all accounts is going very well with numbers exceeding forecasts in the earlier rounds. Plus we have a race for the Juniors/Veterans/C compeitors," said Horohoe.

Racing gets under way from the Mullingar Rugby Club at 2.0 for all events.

(c)independent.ie

22/05/08

Kashechkin to return soon?

The UCI announced that it has sent the doping file on Andrey Kashechkin to the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter this week or next week. However, the Federation has already announced that the rider is free to return to racing, citing unresponsiveness by the UCI.

UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told Cyclingnews, "I confirm that the UCI has sent three times (!) the entire file to the Kazakh Federation. As far as we are aware, the hearing should have started yesterday and should be finished tomorrow."

The former Astana rider tested positive for blood doping in an unannounced control last August while he was on vacation. He was released by the team after the analysis of the B sample.

The Kazakh federation had previously suspended Alexander Vinokourov for one year on similar charges.

Spanish website Todociclismo.com claimed to have seen a letter from the Kazakh federation, stating that "there are elements against opening a procedure against the cyclist Andrey Kashechkin," and guaranteeing that he "is free to return to racing." The letter is said to be endorsed by the Ministry of Sports and the national Olympic committee.

The letter details the case against Kashechkin. The rider had protested against the timing of the test and other irregularities in the testing procedure. Allegedly, the UCI did not send documentation to the federation explaining how the control had been conducted.

The website claimed that on February 13 of this year Kashechkin asked the federation to allow him to return to competition. This would be possible, according to the letter, since the UCI did not answer the outstanding questions, and his return would be supported by the federation, the government and the Olympic committee.

08/05/08

Teams informed of suspicious riders, or not?

23 riders are under investigation for doping violations because of testing under the biological passport programme, the UCI announced last week, and the teams have been informed as to who they are. At least, one team claims that other teams have been informed, but UCI chairman Pat McQuaid has now denied that the riders are necessarily being investigated for doping, and no such notification has been sent.

"The teams involved have been informed," Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Michael Holczer told the Suedwest-Aktiv newspaper. "Thank God, I didn't receive a letter." The two Dutch teams Rabobank and Skil-Shimano both confirmed to telesport.nl that they had also not received such a letter from the UCI. There's a good reason for that, McQuaid told the website, "That is correct, because we have absolutely not sent any team such a letter."

McQuaid continued, "Several tests have been done on all riders since the biological passport was set up. For these 23 riders, we found results which deviated from the normal results. That does not mean that they are suspicious. It is possible that there is a natural cause. That is why we have the biological passport, so that such things can be cleared up." (SW)

05/05/08

Takeout, Wagering Alternatives Discussed

April 29, 2008

Professional horseplayer James Erickson began Tuesday's third session at the Standardbred Wagering Conference-The Takeout Revolution-by giving a brief seminar on the use of betting exchanges.

From the podium, Erickson placed a few bets on Betfair to give a clear example of how this sort of platform works.

Following the demonstration, bettor Roy Sproxton took the lead from moderator Greg Blanchard and shared his experiences - often discouraging - as a horseplayer within the traditional pari-mutuel paradigm.

"The returns are not competitive with what else is available in the market," said Sproxton.

A passionate standardbred owner and bettor with plenty of money to gamble, he is frustrated with small pools. "I want to bet the product," said Sproxton, "but just can't because the pools are so small. WEG is the only product in Canada that is even betable."

Erickson is also a professional gambler - on poker, sports and standardbred racing. He spent his university years gambling at Greenwood Raceway. About five years ago, he started playing poker for a living.

But as far as the takeout debate goes, Erickson just can't see the pot of gold.

"It's why I'm not spending my money or making my wagering in this area right now," he said. "I like the sport, I know the sport, I just don't see how I can make money in it."

"The takeout rate issue in Canadian standardbred racing - no doubt about it - it's an issue," interjected Chuck Keeling, vice-president, Racing Operations for Great Canadian Gaming Corp. "But the one key theme from my perspective is that is must be taken in context. I don't mean to discount its importance. But there are a lot of other issues plaguing racing."

"I think that the takeout issue is one piece, but it's only that," he went on. "And I'm not sure if we'll ever get to the point - outside of Woodbine - where the pari-mutuel model will be the answer."

"But the [pari-mutuel] model is all we've ever known in harness racing," Blanchard pointed out.

Rande Sawchuk, associate director of policy at the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, spoke to Blanchard's comment, offering a basic explanation of pari-mutuel wagering and talking through what role it might play going forward.

Blanchard asked gaming lawyer Michale Lipton (of QC Elkind & Lipton) to share his thoughts on the interplay between Canadian harness racing and the criminal code.

The question of Canadian pari-mutuel wagering, Lipton reminded the panel, is that it's the only legal form of horse racing in the country. He added that someone will have to step up to advocate for change to this monopoly, which would require an amendment to the criminal code.

"The CPMA won't be the driver," said Lipton. "The industry itself will be."

"So should we be looking to other alternatives?" questioned Blanchard.

"I think it works better for some sectors of the industry than others," Keeling replied. "Obviously it works best for thoroughbred tracks, again, because of pool integrity."

"There's no doubt in my mind that Betfair is the way to go," Sproxton insisted. "It doesn't have to replace the tote system. It can compliment the tote system. It's clear on the benefits to the bettor. And I know you're asking, 'well, how is that going to benefit us?'

"It brings into the power of churn because a betting exchange allows you to use leverage," he explained. "If your maximum exposure on any horse is $100, it's not that your maximum bet is $100."

Sproxton went on to work through his process on the betting exchanges - focusing on the ways in which he keeps cycling money through and generating a positive expectant value all the time.

"It brings the power of churn to a whole new level," he said.

"So what are the next steps?" asked Blanchard.

Lipton took the reins, offering some final thoughts before the floor was opened up to the audience.

"I think you've got to recognize that today, this industry offers a beautiful product. But it's limited, and there are some leaders in this particular field who try and bring in new concepts and new ideas," said Lipton. "I think what it's going to take is the idea that you can't stand still. I think that there is an opportunity for the pari-mutuel system to work hand in glove with this kind of exchange betting. But I think the driving force has to come from the industry."

"You have to put together a white paper that discusses the pros and cons [of rethinking the current pari-mutuel system]," Lipton suggested. "Does the public want this? How do we maintain the integrity? By studying it, by coming forth with a clear analysis - you can gain the confidence and the approval of legislators."

"You have to do your homework," Lipton stressed. "You're the industry."

02/05/08

Sinkewitz still looking for team

Former Quickstep and T-Mobile rider Patrick Sinkewitz is still in search of a team with which he could make a come-back to pro cycling in three months time. The German, who admitted to doping last year and received a shortened one-year suspension for collaborating with anti-doping authorities, appeared at the Henninger Turm race in Frankfurt on Thursday - a race he won in 2007 - and stated he was hoping to return to racing with a pro team soon.

"My win here last year was achieved without forbidden substances," insisted Sinkewitz, whose positive control came five weeks after the race, to German ARD TV. "I am currently contacting teams. My ban ends in three months, so I hope that I will race again soon."

The 27 year-old was positive about the current state of cycling as he thought there was less cheating than in the past. Asked whether he thought his doping confession helped to clean up the sport, he replied, "It's difficult to say for me, but I think it did. All the revelations that came to light last year have contributed to a cleaner sport. There are a lot of efforts being put in the anti-doping fight, so I think it must be bearing fruit."