Betting tips / Tour Connoisseur / 21 September 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

As cyclists from all over the world gather in Copenhagen, our cycling afficionado, the Tour Connoisseur, can see clearly through the field to who he feels will win the men's championships.

On paper, the Men's Road Race this Sunday, raced over 266km, is built for the sprinters.

Each year a different country is given the right to hold the Championships and so when Denmark got the nod, knowing that it's a predominantly flat country, the sprinters got excited.

Although it's not a totally flat course, with the highest elevation gain less than 60 metres, just about all the main country's challenging for victory have sent teams based around one or two key sprinters.

The Favourites

Mark Cavendish (United Kingdom)
Has proven time and again he is the quickest man on two wheels in a straight line sprint. Five stage wins at this year's Tour de France is proof enough, and just last week he won two stages in the tour of Britain. You could say he is peaking right on cue.

Thor Hushovd (Norway)
Is the current World Champion after taking out a tough race in Geelong 12 months ago. He showed career-best form at this Year's TDF, winning a couple of stages and a stint in yellow. Reportedly had a bad cold throughout the recent Tour of Britain, but he still managed a stage win, so looks to be coming up at the right time

Matthew Goss (Australia)
Took all before him early season in winning the Milan San Remo classic over a longer distance of 290km. Was 2nd at a stage of TDF, but there is a small question mark over his recovery from illness, which forced him to withdraw from the Tour of Spain just recently.

Philippe Gilbert (Belgium)
He has won just about every major hilly classic this season, including a stage one victory of the TDF, without a doubt the most successful in form rider of 2011. The course probably isn't tough enough for the Belgian, although with a slight uphill drag to the finish line, he can't be discounted.

Andre Greipel (Germany)
Is part of a strong German line up with three other sprinters plus TDF Time Trial winner Tony Martin. Won his first stage of the TDF this year when he went head to head with Mark Cavendish.

Tyler Farrar (USA)
The American is surely a chance for the Gold Medal as he performs well in one-day race's over a similar terrain and distance. The slight uphill drag to the line will be more of an advantage than a disadvantage. He also won his first TDF stage this year in a mass sprint to the line.

Outsiders

Daniele Bennati (Italy)
Had a stage win two weeks ago at the Tour of Spain, showing he is in great sprinting form. I expect the Italian Team to back him all the way, and they generally do a good job when riding in their national colours

Oscar Friere (Spain)
At the age of 35, he's not getting any faster, but there are a couple of reasons why I just can't discount the Spaniard: He's won three World Road Championships (99, 01, 04), so he knows how to get the job done, and he is fast and versatile on any finish, meaning he can perform on a flat course, hilly, wet...you name it, and he's done it. He'll be the undisputed sprinter for the team. Watch him!

Smokey

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway)
With Fellow Countryman (teammate) and defending World Champ Hushovd expected to be the team leader for Norway, his own chances may be limited. However, in the confusion and chaos in the run to the line, who knows, the Norwegian may get his own chance. He won two stages at the 2011 TDF, the first in a hard-fought bunch sprint and the other in a solo break, showing his versatility. With a lot of the focus from rival countries on Hushovd, the door may open for Boasson Hagen.

In Summary

When I look at the distance of the World Champs stacked on the terrain, the uphill finishing straight, in form riders etc, there are four riders I put in the picture for the Gold Medal ride.

There's no sure money, but I would be putting something on Cavendish purely for his speed and the fact that the whole team will stick near protecting him the whole time.

Gilbert, although I said the course maybe isn't tough enough for him, has been so unstoppable this year in one-day races and uphill finishes I would back him as second favourite.

Goss, Hushovd, Greipel and Farrar you could almost throw a blanket over, so putting a little on either wouldn't hurt.

Friere and Bennati also deserve a mention, but I'd be backing the Spaniard first.

Boasson Hagen as the Smokey, if Hushovd falters early, and not a bad smokey to have, given he is extremely versatile in all conditions and terrain.