We’re nine stages into the first Grand Tour of 2019 and the tension is building for the general classification battle.
After a relatively quiet opening week for the overall contenders, the stage nine time trial exposed some cracks and decisively split the field which has prompted the bookies to re-think their choices.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) dominated the second TT of the 2019 edition, taking stage victory and making some huge gains over his nearest rivals.
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After taking the leader’s jersey in the stage one time trial, the Slovenian is unsurprisingly still the bookies’ favourite for overall victory at 33/20, which has moved from 7/4 before the race started.
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Then it’s all change as we move down the list of contenders.
Former Giro d’Italia winner Tom Dumoulin, who had been 5/2 in the days leading up to the race, has crashed out which has narrowed the field (although you can still get the Dutchman at 40/1 if you’re feeling particularly optimistic).
Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) has now moved into the second favourite spot at 15/4, bolstered by his strong showing in the TT and supported by his two previous Giro wins.
The Italian is 1-44 down on Roglič at the first rest day.
Then it’s Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), who sits at 10/1 despite having lost a huge chunk of time during a poor showing on stage nine.
Yates had been at 11/4 prior to the race and has slipped back in the bookies’ minds, but it’s early to write off the climbing sensation.
He is currently 3-46 down to Roglič.
Astana’s Miguel Ángel López , 4-29 down to Roglič, still holds a strong spot in the list of bookmaker’s picks, currently sitting at 12/1 despite being another to lose a block of time in the second TT.
Those are the most serious GC contenders out of the way, as the bookies then look to Richard Carapaz (Movistar) at 22/1.
Bauke Mollema put in a staggering performance on stage nine and is now 40/1, followed by Mikel Landa (Movistar) at 50/1,
Dutchman Mollema is now 12th on GC, around two minutes back on the best placed GC favourite.
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Deceuninck –Quick-Step’s Bob Jungels is not considered a major threat by the bookies however, with odds of 250/1, despite sitting in 14th at 4-08 down on the race leader.
The current maglia rosa Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates), who leads by 1-50 over Roglič, is 400/1 for anyone fancying a shock victor.
For British supporters, Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Ineos) is currently 500/1, in 31st overall at 6-58 down on the maglia rosa while Quick-Step climber James Knox is 4,500/1.
Both riders have been caught in crashes in the opening week, with Knox now in 143rd place and more than an hour down on Conti.
Giro d’Italia 2019 odds (Winner – Oddschecker)
Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 33/20
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 15/4
Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 10/1
Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana
Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
Mikel Landa (Esp) Movistar 50/1
Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 75/1
Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 75/1
Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 100/1
All odds correct at time of publication
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