Sportingbet Australia has reported huge interest in Sky’s Christopher Froome to win the final grand tour of 2012, the Vuelta a Espana.
Sportingbet Australia spokesman Andrew Brown said most of the money for the Vuelta so far has been for Froome.
“We’ve taken a number of large bets on Froome to win including a wager of $2000 on him at odds of $4.50,” Brown said.
“He was runner up last year and punters are clearly impressed with the form he displayed at the Tour De France.”
“He’s now a solid $4 second favourite,” Brown said.
Alberto Contador is a firm $1.60 odds-on favourite to win his second Vuelta with Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez third favourite at $9.00.
“There’s only been a sprinkling of interest for Contador at those odds and punters clearly see him as a risk.”
Contador and Rodriguez are $2.70 equal favourites in the Points Classification.
2012 Vuelta Overall Race Winner
Sportingbet Australia Market
Alberto Contador 1.60
Christopher Froome 4.00
Joaquim Rodriguez 9.00
Juan Jose Cobo 15.00
Igor Anton 17.00
Robert Gesink 26.00
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 34.00
Nairo Quintana Rojas 34.00
Bauke Mollema 41.00