In spite of an injury Alberto Contador is still a cycling betting pick for the Spanish Vuelta. However, his odds are, as we say in the wagering business, on the drift. Even Chris Froome, who also crashed out of the Tour de France, appears to have better chances of winning the The Vuelta, which will take place between 23 August and 14 September 2014.
· Vuelta a España odds to win
(Name – team – country – odds)
1. Nairo Quintana – Movistar – Colombia – 13/8
2. Chris Froome – Sky – Britain – 3/1
3. Alberto Contador – Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank – Spain – 5/2
4. Joaquim Rodriguez – Katusha – Spain – 10/1
5. Alejandro Valverde – Movistar – Spain – 16/1
6. Rigoberto Uran – Omega Pharma-Quick Step – Colombia – 28/1
7. Christopher Horner – Lampre-Merida – USA – 33/1
8. Domenico Pozzovivo – Ag2r-La Mondiale – Italy – 33/1
9. Fabio Aru – Astana – Italy – 33/1
10. Bradley Wiggins – Sky – Britain – 50/1
Even though Contador’s shin fracture will not require surgery, his doctors have told him that it’s impossible for him to race in the Vuelta, he says that he will work extra hard in the following weeks and see how his leg progresses. But even if the former Tour de France winner managed to be in shape to participate in Spain, he might not be at a 100%.
Either way, that opens the door for Colombian specialist climber Nairo Quintana. The 24-year-old member of Team Movistar won the 2014 Giro d’Italia and finished second in the 2013 Tour de France. And while he didn’t even make the top 30 in the 2012 Vuelta, he has certainly come a long way and his cycling odds of reigning supreme in Spain have increased as well. Quintana’s story is a truly rags to riches tale, having overcome precariously difficult economic conditions to become one of the great Colombian cycling prospects. It would be fitting if he conquered what was his Grand Tour Debut, the Vuelta a España.