If, at the tail end of Britain’s most successful Tour De
France in history, you could have imagined Bradley Wiggins going off as big as
8/1 for any stage race, then it’s fair to say you have a more fanciful
imagination than me, but that’s the situation going into the second stage of
this week’s Volta a Catalunya after the first of seven stages yesterday which
now sees a group of elite riders with a 28 second gap on the field afrer a
breakaway attempt on what was expected to be a sprinter’s stage.
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| Bradley Wiggins showed dangerous intent when initiating a 13 man escape yesterday that made 28 seconds on the rest of the field |
With the race taking place in southern Spain, over many roads
that bear similarity that the Vuelta A Espana of last year incorporated, it’s
no surprise to see Joaquim Rodgriguez and Alejandro Valverde as the favourites
– both of whom came home a mile clear of Chris Froome last year - for ths
week’s overall title but Wiggins showed when initiating the breakway yesterday
that his bid for the Giro D’Italia start properly now and he can put it right
upto them, which was a good sign considering that he’d looked miles overweight
when going up the tougher climbs in the Tour Of Oman.
Favourite for this year’s Giro – which incorporates a time
trial longer than either of the two he dominated in the Tour De France – the
lack of an event against the lock is a hindrance but the super strong Sky team
of Uran, Catalado and David Lopez will make him a formidable rival for even the
explosive Spanish duo to handle. In short, the 8/1 Paddy Power offer going ¼ a
odds for 3 places looks to be easily the best value in the race and should be
taken before the first mountain stage.
Advice
2 pts each/way Bradley Wiggins (8/1 Paddy Power, 13/2
general)
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