The Vuelta a España is Spain's answer to the celebrated Tour De France and the Giro D’Italia. Although it is the youngest of cycling's so-called three Grand Tours, Vuelta España betting remains every bit as thrilling. Read on for the latest odds as well as our expert tips and predictions to get the best bang for your buck!
- Tournament Structure for the Vuelta a España
- Best Betting Sites for the Vuelta a España
- Vuelta a España Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
- 8 Reasons To Bet on the Vuelta a España
- Popular Vuelta a España Betting Markets
- History of the Vuelta a España
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- Similar Cycling Road Races to the Vuelta a España
- The PuntersPage Final Say
Tournament Structure for the Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is usually made up of 21 stages, for which cyclists have 23 days to complete with two inactive days for rest. Each stage is timed and compounded together for the final points tally. The cyclist who manages to achieve the lowest aggregate time wins the race and receives the prestigious red jersey.
While the classification attracts the most attention, other contests within the Vuelta are popular as well, such as the classification points for sprinters, mountain climbers, all-round cyclists, and the final classification of the team.
The 2021 renewal of the Vuelta a España consisted of 23 cycling teams, one more than normal. This extra team was included to make up for reduced numbers in the previous renewal, which were enforced by the ongoing pandemic. Nineteen of the teams were UCI WorldTeams, and were joined by Four UCI ProTeams. The final three teams were all wild-card invitations as chosen by the Amaury Sport Organisation.
In another break from the norm, the 2021 race took place entirely within Spanish borders. Previously Portugal, Andorra, France, Netherlands, and Belgium had all hosted stages of the race, which has on occasions even started abroad (again, these changes were down to the pandemic). The 2021 route began in Burgos with a new major mountain pass addition – the Alto de Gamoniteiru, which is where Stage 18 concluded. For the first time since 2014, the race did not finish in Madrid, but at Santiago de Compostela following individual time trials.
Best Betting Sites for the Vuelta a España
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Vuelta a España Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
The 77th edition of the prestigious Spanish Vuelta a España is set to take place from the 19th of August to the 11th of September 2022, officially departing from the Netherlands.
Here is the latest Vuelta betting, tips and predictions and promotions for the third and final Grand Tour race of the men’s professional cycling season. The Vuelta a España follows the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, which took place in May and July, respectively.
Vuelta a España Betting Odds 2022
Primoz Roglic, the obvious race favourite, won the race in the last three years consecutively but decided to abandon the 2022 Tour de France in July, to the surprise of many. However, the former world number one is still head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
At the time of writing, very few bookmakers had issued Vuelta 2022 odds for the biggest cycle race in Spain. However, these did include bet365, who are offering each-way terms of one-quarter the win odds for the first three places without the Slovenian cyclist.
Vuelta a España Betting Tips & Predictions 2022
There was some speculation that Roglic left the Tour de France in order to be better prepared for the Vuelta. This idea was dismissed by the management of Team Jumbo-Visma. Undoubtedly, though, Roglic holds a special connection to the Vuelta as it has embellished his career with three Grand Tour wins.
A fit and healthy Roglic cannot be opposed in the Spanish road race, but his odds will probably be restrictive. He has in fact been included in many “Betting Without” markets, a clear sign that leading betting sites have identified a mass favourite – this can lead to a decrease in competition as far as Outright Win markets are concerned.
- At the time of writing, Simon Yates is carrying odds of 9/1 with bet365 to win the race, excluding Roglic. These odds are subject to change, but there is some value in backing the winner of the 2018 Vuelta. Although that remains Yates’ only Grand Tour to date, he did win a mountain stage of the 2021 Giro.
- With the experience and ability to chase home Roglic and make the podium, Pavel Sivakov looks overpriced to us. The French cyclist finished 16th in this year’s Giro d’Italia, against a much stronger field. He won the Vuelta a Burgos earlier in August, so he has a recent winning form in Spain.
- However, we can’t ignore Roglic, who is familiar with the terrain, even though the race route does change from year to year. He has an outstanding chance to win the race for the fourth time in four years. This will be reflected in the odds for the 2022 Vuelta a España.
Vuelta a España Promotions 2022
Bookmakers had not released any betting promotions when we completed this betting guide. However, we expect a range of cycling and Vuelta-specific promotions to emerge before and during the race, probably in the form of free bets, enhanced odds, and no deposit bonuses.
In the meantime, new customers can use any bookmaker's welcome bonus to place bets on the Vuelta, which could come in the form of match deposit bonuses or free bets.
Sign-up bonuses are subject to wagering requirements and odds restrictions. However, they could be a good incentive to register, deposit funds and place bets on the Vuelta a España. You should bear in mind that returns from a bet on Roglic and other Vuelta riders will not include the free bet stake.
- The 888sport sign-up offer grants free bets up to £30 in value after placing a £10 qualifying bet. This bet has to have minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50), and the free bets can be used on singles or multiples. The free bets expire after 7 days.
- New customers signing up with bet365 are credited with £50 in free bets after placing a qualifying bet for £10. Hence, this is a 500% match deposit bonus, and qualifying bets must be placed at 1/5 (1.20) or higher. The free bet tokens expire after 30 days.
- William Hill gives new account holders £30 in free bets after placing a qualifying bet for £10. This first bet after making a deposit is only valid at odds of 1/2 (1.50). Free bets expire after 30 days of the qualifying bet, at which point free bet funds are forfeited.
8 Reasons To Bet on the Vuelta a España
Here are 8 reasons to place bets on the Vuelta a España:
- It is one of the three Grand Tours, which are the classic races of the season.
- Experienced riders and others who are relatively new to professional cycling take part.
- You'll be able to enjoy extensive pre-race, in-play, and ante-post win and each-way outright winner betting.
- Betting on other classifications, such as the point’s winner and King of the Mountains, will also be available.
- There's live TV coverage with expert analysts and pointers to the main contenders.
- Leading professional teams in the sport have riders contesting the race.
- An extensive amount of Vuelta a España form, including stage and race winners, can be found online.
- Beautiful views of Spanish towns and villages with informed commentary.
Popular Vuelta a España Betting Markets
Cycling is becoming an increasingly popular sport, gaining followers and fans with every high profile tour. The Vuelta a España is especially ripe for cycling betting, offering typical bet types available at most online bookies. Here are the most popular bet types for Vuelta a España:
Outright Winner Betting
Betting on the outright winner of the Vuelta a España is a straightforward market that many punters enjoy, and which involves predicting the overall winner of the tournament. The odds are typically displayed at online bookmakers offering cycling betting.
Best Vuelta a España betting site for Outright Winner Without Primoz Roglic: bet365
Stage Winner Betting
Each of the 21 stages at the Vuelta a España comes with betting options of its own. You can pick a cyclist for each stage with different odds, or select other cyclists instead of sticking to just one.
Best Vuelta a España betting site for Stage Winner: Sportingbet
Cyclist’s Nationality Betting
Betting on the winner's nationality is another popular Vuelta a España betting market. Here, you simply select a nationality for the outright winner of the Vuelta a España, whether a local Spanish, British, French, or Italian cyclist.
Best Vuelta a España betting site for Cyclist’s Nationality: bwin
Top Three, or Top Ten Finish Betting
A top ten, or top-three finish is a bit similar to each-way betting, as in other sports. You are essentially wagering on a particular cyclist to end the tour in the top ten or top three.
Best Vuelta a España betting site for Top Three or Top Ten: SportNation
Betting on Head-to-Head Performances
Head-to-head betting is also called matched betting. This market pits one cyclist against another, requiring you to predict who will finish better placed in a particular stage or the whole race.
Best Vuelta a España betting site for head-to-head betting: VBET
Points Winner Betting
Betting on the points winner means placing a stake on who will eventually win the Green or Points Jersey. These are given to the cyclist who accumulates the most points in the intermediate sprints and different stage finishes.
History of the Vuelta a España
The first edition of the Vuelta a España took place in 1935, when fifty men took part in the first Tour of Spain in Madrid. The participants used heavy bikes and fixed their breakdowns with tools and patches. Belgian cyclist Gustaaf Deloor won the first edition, which covered 3,425 kilometres and started on the 29th of April and went on until the 15th of May with fourteen endless stages, including ten of them more than 250 km. The race was interrupted during the Spanish Civil War, and again in 1941 when the Second World War limited foreign participation.
The Vuelta a España has created many cycling myths along the way, such as Jan Janssen, Ocaña, Merkx, Pedro Delgado, Tony Rominger, Abrahan Olano, Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador. Other notable competitors include Bahamontes and Indurain, who, despite not winning, have shown their qualities and have managed to be on the podium. The Vuelta is one of the three Grand Cycling Tours. The other two races are the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.
The race covers approximately 3,500 kilometres, although it has varied slightly; the route passes through Spain and surrounding countries in Europe, but it always ends in Madrid. It has day-long segments or stages, with individual finishing times totalled up for each step, determining the overall winner. Spanish cyclists hold the record for the most wins, with 23 cyclists winning 29 Vueltas collectively. The French are next with nine wins, and the Belgians are in third place with seven wins between them.
Recent Vuelta de España Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Primož Roglič |
| 2020 | Primož Roglič |
| 2019 | Primož Roglič |
| 2018 | Simon Yates |
| 2017 | Chris Froom |
| 2016 | Nairo Quintana |
| 2015 | Fabio Aru |
| 2014 | Alberto Contador |
| 2013 | Chris Horner |
| 2012 | Alberto Contador |
| 2011 | Chris Froom |
Vuelta a España Key Stats
- Spaniard Roberto Heras won the race a record 4 times in 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
- The race distance is 2,892 km (1,797 miles).
- There are 21 stages, with the exception of 2020, when there were only 18 stages due to the pandemic.
- Spanish cyclist Delio Rodríguez won 33 stages in 1941.
- In 1984, Eric Caritoux of France won the race by 6 seconds ahead of Alberto Fernandez Blanco from Spain.
Upcoming Sporting Events
Similar Cycling Road Races to the Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a Espana is one of the three classic races in men’s professional cycling, which are collectively known as the Grand Tours. Here is information about the previous 2022 two major multi-stage road races, in Italy and France:
| Race | 2022 Dates | Race Winner | Point's Winner | Mountain's Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro d’Italia | May 6 to May 29 | Jai Hindley (AUS) | Arnaud Demare (FRA) | Koen Bouwman (NED) |
| Tour de France | July 21 to July 24 | Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) |
The PuntersPage Final Say
Sports betting has evolved, and cycling is a big part of that, especially with events such as the Vuelta a España – one of three major cycling races in Europe. The scenic beauty of the routes through the Pyrenees and on to Madrid is a big part of the race's attraction, with the best teams and cyclists providing multiple betting options and exceptional odds from online bookmakers. The Vuelta a España will have punters and fans enthralled and full of anticipation right till the end!
Vuelta a España Betting FAQs
The best betting sites for Vuelta a España are 888sport, bet365, and William Hill.
British channels Eurosport and ITV4 hold the UK rights for TV coverage of the 2022 Vuelta a España.
The 2022 edition is scheduled to be held from the 19th August to the 11th of September.
There were 21 stages at the 2021 edition of the Vuelta a España.
Roberto Heras won the event a record four times between 2000 and 2005.
The Vuelta's race distance for the 2021 edition was a gruelling 3,336.1 kilometres, or 2,073 miles long. It included steep mountain passes and long flat stretches ideal for sprinters.