Best Cycling Betting Sites in 2020

Thanks to the success of riders like Chris Froome and Team Sky, cycling betting has never been more popular. And with so many bookies to choose from, we wanted to make things easier and provide you with a list of the best UK cycling betting sites.

Our resident experts reveal their top tips for cycling betting and explain how some key markets work. If you are thinking about having a bet on cycling, then this page has everything you need to get you started.

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Top 5 Cycling Betting Sites Up Close

In this section we take a closer look at our favourite cycling betting sites and outline exactly why we rate them so highly. You’ll discover what makes each bookie stand out from the crowd for betting on cycling and the reasons we recommend them. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, keep on reading to find out more.

bet365

If you are looking for a classy cycling betting site that is suitable for inexperienced and seasoned punters alike, bet365 is the perfect choice. We have a section on the recommended races for cycling betting and bet365 form markets for all of those well in advance of them starting. Betting is also available on some of the lesser-known races during the season. Pre-race and in-play betting on cycling is on the menu at bet365 and the range of markets on offer should satisfy the keenest cycling punters. 

888sport

At 888sport, cycling betting is one of their strongest areas. Live betting is available for all the biggest races throughout the season and 888sport’s cycling betting odds are extremely competitive in comparison to some of their rivals. If you click on the statistics icon underneath the date of the cycling race you are betting on, you can check the latest UCI rankings for both men and women and you can also view the schedule for races throughout the season. If you are serious about betting on cycling, 888sport is well worth checking out. 

Paddy Power

The main reason we loved the Paddy Power cycling betting experience so much was mostly due to their regular and innovative cycling betting promotions. You can always rely on Paddy Power to come up with original and often funny promotions for the big races like the Tour De France. You can bet on all the Grand Tours and One Day races at Paddy Power and their iOS and Android mobile apps are perfect for betting on cycling on the move. 

Unibet

Unibet is fast becoming a go to site for lots of cycling betting enthusiasts and when you visit the site it is easy to see why. For the big day races and Grand Tour stages not only can you bet on the race winner, you can also bet on a rider to achieve a top 3 finish. Match betting markets are formed too by Unibet and you can often find some cracking value cycling bets. You’ll be able to find all the cycling markets we talk about later on in our dedicated section. If you are looking for a new bookie for cycling betting Unibet is definitely worth your attention. 

William Hill

If you love cycling betting William Hill is a bookie well worth giving a second look to. A British betting institution, William Hill is a good all rounder for those who enjoy betting on cycling. All the major races are covered, an excellent selection of cycling markets are available and you might even come across an occasional William Hill cycling promotion. With solid odds and high quality iOS and Android apps, William Hill are more than deserving of their place on our list of the top cycling bookies in the UK. 

Recommended Cycling Betting Markets

If you want to make betting on cycling pay then you need to learn about the many different markets you can bet on. Most punters will be more than aware of backing a rider to win a race or the General Classification at a Grand Tour. However, there are lots more markets that provide great opportunities for profit and in this section we look at some of the most interesting ones. Find out more below…

Race Winner

When you bet on the race winner at one of the Grand Tours you are betting on the overall winner of the General Classification (GC). This is the classic bet that punters place in all racing sports, as you can see on our MotoGP page or our page on Formula 1. In most of the big races, only a handful of riders are capable of challenging for the GC. The likes of Froome, Dumoulin, Bernal and Roglic usually dominate the head of the race winner market and riders like them are worth focusing on. Remember, riders need a strong team to succeed at the biggest races so make sure to have a look to see how strong a team is before you back their leader.

Top 3 Finish

When you are betting on a one day race or a stage a top 3 finish bet is a good option. In this market you are betting on a rider to finish in the first 3 places. You won’t win anything extra if your selection wins the race like when you place an each way wager, but if they come second or third you’ll get paid the same amount. This is a less risky choice than backing a rider to win the stage or race and it is suitable for both casual and expert cycling punters.

Stage Betting

The big Grand Tours like the Vuelta A Espana and Tour De France are stage races. All the top cycling betting sites we mention form a variety of markets for each stage. The most popular one is the stage winner market and this is a very tough nut to crack, particularly on mountainous or hilly stages. Flat stages with sprint finishes are easier to predict but overall this is a very risky market that is suitable for casual betting only.

King of the Mountains

In the Giro d’Italia, Tour De France and Vuelta Espana the riders have to climb some of the highest mountains in Europe. Some riders are climbing specialists and the rider with the best record on categorised climbs wins the King Of The Mountains jersey. Realistically there us usually a small group of riders capable of winning this jersey and sprinters can automatically be discounted. It is a mid-risk level market that is probably best left to punters who have an in-depth knowledge of different rider’s characteristics.

Young Rider Betting

You can also bet on who will be the best young rider at the Grand Tours. It is a mid-level risk market and again, it is one that is more suited to seasoned cycling bettors. At the Tour De France the leading young rider wears a white jersey and only riders aged 26 or younger can compete for this prize. In 2019 Egan Bernal became just the third rider to win the GC and the best Young Rider awards in the same year. He looks sure to be at the head of the betting for this market for the next couple of years.

Live Cycling Betting

Betting in-play on cycling is even more exciting than placing pre-race bets and it gives cycling betting fans the chance to find winners at nice odds. You can react to events unfolding during the race and if you are quicker than the bookies you can get some very nice odds. For example, say you are watching a race and the leader gets a puncture. That changes the picture (and the odds) massively and you can adjust your bets accordingly.

In our view, for live betting on cycling bet365 is the best bookie by far. Their live-betting suite has loads of in-play cycling markets, their in-play cycling odds are competitive and placing a bet only takes a couple of seconds. All things considered, bet365 is your best option for betting live on cycling.

Live Streaming Cycling Races

As far as we can see, no UK bookie has the rights to offer live streaming of cycling races. If you want to watch the big Grand Tours like the Giro, Vuelta and Tour De France you can do so on Eurosport or ITV. This means that you’ll be able to follow the action on TV at home and you can bet in-play on the race with bet365 on your desktop or mobile device.

Recommended Races for Cycling Betting

In this section we discuss the best races for cycling betting. There are lots of races throughout the season but punters tend to focus on the biggest ones. The season starts with the Tour Down Under and that race can give clues as to how riders might perform in the Grand Tours and the Cycling World Championships. We look at the key cycling betting events below and you’ll find plenty of useful information that should help you to find more cycling winners.

Race Name	Country
Tour De France	France
Giro D’Italia	Italy
Vuelta A Espana	Spain
Tour Down Under	Australia
Cycling World Championships	Varies

Tour De France

If professional riders could pick one race to win during their career, this would be it. The Tour De France is the Grand Daddy of Grand Tours and it is one of the most physically demanding sports events in the world. There are 21 stages held over 23 days in July with a combined distance of around 2,200 miles. The riders have to tackle some gruelling climbs up steep mountains and it is worth looking at the race schedule on the official Tour De France site before you have a bet. The more uphill stages there are, the more likely it will be a strong climber who takes home the yellow jersey.

Giro D’Italia

This is probably the second most prestigious cycling road race in the world. It is another Grand Tour with a total of 21 stages and it is the first major race of the season, traditionally starting in May. Italian riders target this race, both for stage wins and the General Classification so take heed of them when placing stage winner or race winner bets. It is a very tough race with lots of mountains for the riders to navigate. If a rider performs well in the Giro it can be worth backing them for the Tour De France or Vuelta later in the season.

Vuelta a Espana

The third and final Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana is held in Spain and usually starts in late August. Just like the two other Grand Tours there are 21 stages held over a period of 23 days and it is a tough test at the end of a long campaign. Riders that compete in the Tour De France and Giro often struggle in the Vuelta because of fatigue. It can often pay to back fresh riders for both the GC and for individual stages at the Vuelta a Espana as they will have more power left in their legs. Check our expert cycling betting strategy tips for more clues on how to find winning Vuelta A Espana bets.

Tour Down Under

The first big race on the cycling race calendar is the Tour Down Under. It gives the riders a chance to blow off the cobwebs and get the legs pumping in preparation for bigger tests later in the season. It is held in the middle of the Australian summer and normally begins in January. It is not as long as the Grand Tours with just 6 stages held on consecutive days. Focus on Aussie riders if you are having a bet on the Tour Down Under. Richie Porte in particular has a fine record in the race, winning it in 2017 and 2020. Aussie riders have won 5 of the last 7 renewals.

Cycling World Championships

The Cycling World Championship closes the show on the UCI season. There are a number of different categories for both men and women. The two biggest races of the week are the Elite Men’s Road race and the Elite Men’s time trial. The road race is held over one day and one stage and you should check the course profile on the official UCI World Championships site before you have a bet. Different types of routes suit different styles and the course profile massively influences the final result. Time trial specialists are worth backing for the Elite Men’s time trial which is an individual race against the clock.

Expert Cycling Betting Advice & Tips

It is never a good idea to blindly follow cycling betting tips that you find online. You don’t know for sure whether the ‘tipster’ is genuine and it is far better to make your own picks. There is nothing more satisfying when your research and hard work is rewarded with a winner and if you follow our expert tips for betting on cycling below you should be firing in those winning bets before too long…

• Team Strength:
  A rider is only as good as the teammates around him and team strength should always be considered, especially if you are betting on the race winner. Teammates help set the pace, rally around their team leader during climbs and do everything in their power to help him win. As we mentioned in our section on cycling betting markets, make sure to check the strength of the entire team before backing someone for the GC.
• Watch The Weather:
  Weather conditions can play havoc during cycling races, even on the flattest stages. If there is a strong crosswind, for example, that can lead to a breakaway group forming on flat stages that would usually finish as a bunch sprint. Rain can blunt the speed of strong descenders on mountain stages too. Make sure to check the weather forecast before deciding who to back.
• Stage Profiles:
  It is also very important to check the stage profile before you have a bet. There isn’t much point in backing a sprinter if there is a mountain finish. Alternatively, the top climbers won’t be competing in the bunch sprints on flat stages. Every stage is different and some teams target stage wins rather than the overall GC winner at the Grand Tours. If you can predict when a team is targeting a certain stage.
• Know Your Rider:
  Riders have strengths and weaknesses and if you are serious about betting on cycling, you need to do your homework. For example, Peter Sagan targets the Green Jersey (most points) at the Tour De France and on hilly and flat stages you can be sure he’ll be at the head of the peloton. Keep an eye on riders’ social media pages too. They often reveal important info on race tactics that can put you one step ahead of the bookies.
• Get The Best Odds:
  It doesn’t matter whether you are placing a pre-race or live cycling bet, the most important thing you need to do is find the best odds. You won’t go too far wrong using the bookies that make our top cycling betting sites list. However, some are stronger in certain areas than others and if you want to get the best cycling betting odds there are no shortcuts. Check out our in-depth look at the best cycling bookies for more info on the quality of odds at individual bookmakers.
• Stats Matter:
  Looking back at previous results and rider stats can often help you to uncover winners when betting on cycling. Some riders excel when they climb certain mountains for example. Looking back at previous races that had the same mountain top finish can give clues as to who might perform well in the upcoming race. The Procyclingstats official site has loads of useful statistics and information that can help punters get an edge over cycling betting sites.

Cycling Betting FAQs