Vuelta Espana 2013

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2013 edition starting saturday. It should be the most exciting and open race in years with no Froome, Contador or Wiggins. It has 12 uphill finishes this year :eek which should make for a good spectacle. There are questions marks over all the favourites with fatigue being the main issue for Valverde 9/2 and Rodriguez 3/1, Nibali 9/4 says his main goal is the Worlds, but surely he will go for this as he would be the clear favourite if so. At the moment I can't decide on one of them. The next two in the betting interest me Henao 12/1 and Betancur 18/1, Henao is team leader for sky this year and has the backing of Uran, he has had a good prep race for this and looks perfectly primed to go well. Betancour hasn't been seen on the big stage since his excellent 3rd in the Giro he has the potential to be anything. I think he will go well. Of the rest Basso 20/1 and Sanchez 20/1 are too old for a shot at the podium. Uran is only in a support role, Majka 66/1 could be interesting at a big price had a good Giro and looks to be in good shape for this, Mollema price looks huge as well, he had a great tour but it did take a lot out of him. I think Rodriguez will win the points as the stages should suit his style, EBH has a good e/w chance as well 16/1 bet 365. The KOM has all the GC favourites near the top, Anton at 40/1 is of interest, if he abandons GC hopes he has a great chance of winning this. Of the favourites I'd have to go for Rodriguez again, he should gobble up a lot of points in those short climbs. I think Saxo will win the team, I wouldn't have moviestar or Astana at those prices, Euskatel look the big danger with AG2R a good outside bet for a top 3 finish. A speculative bet in the rider to win most stages category Tyler Farrar at 125/1. On form (which he is not at the moment) he is the best sprinter in this by far. If he could get back to anything near form he should be able to win at least 2 stages which should be good enough to dead heat. Unless Rodriguez is in serious form 2 stages should be the maximum anyone wins. A few value top ten's at odds against. Mollema 5/4 done a great Tour and unless his legs completely give in, he should top 10. Uran 5/4 doing domistique for Haneo but he should top 10 great climber. Nieve 7/2 looks to have a chance great riding in the 3rd week of Tour and Euskatel will want to do well here. A word on the Irish boys Roche is dreaming about a top 5 in the papers dream on. He should just concentrate on stage wins, if he does I still can't see him winning one. Martin has a terrible team with him so his GC hopes are out the window. I think he will win a stage somewhere which will be great. Outright 1pt e/w Betancour 18/1 skybet 0.5 pts Majka 66/1 bet 365 1.5 Haneo 12/1 bet 365 Points Classification 7 pt win Rodriguz 5/2 Boyles 1.5 pt e/w EBH 16/1 bet 365 KOM 1pt e/w Anton 40/1 boyles 3 pt win Rodriguez 11/2 bet 365 Team Classification 3 pt win Saxo 3/1 Boyles 1pt e/w AG2R 14/1 Boyles Rider to win most stages 1 pt winTyler Farrar 125/1 VC Top 10 3pt win Mollema 5/4 bet 365 3pt win Uran 5/4 bet 365 1.5 pt win Nieve 7/2 VC.

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Re: Vuelta Espana 2013 First stage is a team TT later this evening. Omega Quickstep are worthy favourites and should win. Martin, De Weert and Vandewalle are really strong and they should be too strong. I think the best e/w value lies with Radioshack. I think they will go well in this. I couldn't be having Astana at their price. Belkin could go well at a bigger price. I'll be laying into Quickstep though and Belkin and Radioshack for the e/w value. 5pt win Omega Quickstep 6/4 boyles 1.5 pts e/w Radioshack 8/1 ladbrokes 1st 2 1/4 odds. 0.75 pts e/w Belkin 25/1 boyles first 3 1/5 odds