Cycling is a sport that really only takes center stage in the media every year during the Tour de France. That being said there are many other cycling tours that can be bet on throughout the year including the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. The amount of sports betting markets available will vary between sportsbooks.
On this page we look at where you can bet on cycling, explain the most common bets and how to read the odds, and finish with a step by step guide to getting started.
Where Can You Bet On Cycling?
Where you can bet on cycling depends on where you live. Here is a quick look at the main options in the United States, Canada, the UK and elsewhere.
United States
Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C. Some licensed sportsbooks offer odds on the biggest cycling races, especially the Tour de France, although coverage is limited and varies by state and operator. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed. Offshore sportsbooks also accept bets from Americans, but they are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means there is no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
Canada
Ontario has a regulated market of licensed online sportsbooks, and the other provinces offer online betting through their provincial lottery sites. The legal betting age is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Coverage of cycling varies by site, so check the markets offered before signing up.
United Kingdom
Licensed bookmakers in the UK offer odds on all three Grand Tours and many of the major one-day races. Use an operator licensed by the Gambling Commission, which requires you to be 18 or older and verifies your identity before you can bet.
Elsewhere
Many other countries regulate online betting with their own licensing systems, while some restrict it. Check the rules in your country before signing up with any betting site, and stick to operators licensed where you live.
Types of Cycling Bets
There are several types of bets you can make on the entire tour or sections of it, and you can also place bets on individual stages.
A popular bet on the entire Tour is choosing which cyclist will win the Tour outright. You can generally get a solid return if your cyclist has the most consistent Tour and finishes ahead of the competition. You can also wager on top 10 finishes, King of the Mountains, Points Classification, Team Classification or Young Rider Classification for the entire Tour.
Then you can also wager on every Stage of the Tour. For Stages the sportsbooks will generally offer odds for which cyclist will win the Stage, as well as some head-to-head match-ups similar to how golf betting is done. Here is an example of a head-to-head match-up for a single stage:
Wout Van Aert -200
Alberto Bettiol +150
In this example a wager on Van Aert would payout if he beats Bettiol in this stage and vice versa.
Cycling Betting Tips
Here is one main tip that should help you make money betting on cycling this year.
- Do Research – Oddsmakers don’t use up as much of their time researching sports that won’t be extensively wagered on. If you do more research than the oddsmakers then you can put yourself in a good position to notice sharp lines and take advantage. Cycling is a very grueling sport and tips on cyclists fatigue and overall health can go a long way in turning a profit betting on cycling online.
How To Bet On Cycling Online – Step By Step
Whichever site you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose a Licensed Site
Pick a sportsbook that is licensed where you live and offers cycling markets. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
The minimum age is 21 in most US states, 18 or 19 in Canada depending on the province, and 18 in the UK. Most licensed sites also confirm that you are located where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Licensed sites are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for a photo of your ID or other documents.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the site’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the cycling section, select the market you’re interested in, and enter your stake. Before confirming, check the odds and how much you stand to win.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the race and stick to it. Most licensed sites let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, free help is available: call 1-800-GAMBLER in the US, ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 in Ontario, or the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133 in the UK.