Stage 1 Predictions & Betting tips - Vuelta - Spanish tour

Prediction published on 15/08/2024, 09:16  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 15/08/2024 at 09:27

The 2024 Vuelta a España will get underway with stage 1 on Saturday, August 17, in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The event kicks off with an individual time trial that runs along the Tagus River and ends in Oeiras 12 kilometres later. Let’s get into the prediction. 

This year’s starting list is as open as we’ve seen in a while with the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard all opting not to attend the event. 

However, three-time winner Primoz Roglic, along with Adam Yates, Wout van Aert, Joshua Tarling and Joao Almeida are set to feature and are among the favourites early on at the books. 

Given the absence of Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel, UAE Team Emirates look primed to do well this year and if that is to be the case then Joao Almeida will be one to watch. He has led Grand Tour teams in the past and showed solid form at the Tour de France. 

With Vuelta consisting of just one pure flat sprint day, debutant Wout van Aert could thrive in this opening stage. The Belgian has made solid progress over the last year as seen since the Olympics and not having Vingegaard to work on behalf off could be a major advantage. 

Given it is a ‘home’ race, the Spanish riders also deserve a mention and one in particular is Roberto Heras, who is still the most successful rider in the race, having won it four times in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005. However, do not count out defending champions Sepp Kuss, and Roglic.