Mens Cycling Road Race Predictions & Betting tips - Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 01/08/2024, 03:34  by Matthew Newman | Modified on 01/08/2024 at 03:47

At 273km, the men's cycling road race will be the longest ever contested at an Olympic Games. The course has a series of short, sharp climbs which will separate the field as the pace starts to ramp up. Three laps of a circuit back in the city will see riders climb Montmartre, a cobbled ascent at 6.5%. The final lap will see the puncheurs make their final bid for glory.

Mathieu van der Poel is the hot favourite and our prediction. Winner of the Paris-Roubaix and the Tour Of Flanders this year, those experiences on the cobbles will stand him in good stead. He is also the reigning World Road Race Champion and on his 2024 showings, should be adding the Olympic title to that haul.

The runner-up at the worlds last year was Wout Van Aert. The Flanders man has excelled in the Classics over the last five years, winning the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne this season. He was the bronze medalist in the men's time trial earlier in these games. Boasting a serious finish, if this comes down to a sprint, Van Aert will like his chances.

Mads Pedersen has twice won the Gent-Wevelgem, including earlier this year. 2019 saw him win the World Road Race Championships so he knows what it takes to win at this sort of level. 

Already a gold medalist at the games, Remco Evanepoel won the men's time trial on July 27. An exceptional climber, and the confidence from his success on Saturday is going to make him a huge player here.

At a bigger price, consideration should be given to Matteo Jorgenson. He has taken his form to a new level in 2024, winning both Paris-Nice and the Dwars door Vlaanderen. The latter is a Flanders Classic which has at least a passing resemblance to the tests of this course.