Stage-6: Another win for Meersman at La Vuelta 2016

Gianni Meersman at La Vuelta 2016: second victory for the Belgian in the five days of this year Vuelta a espana

La Vuelta a Espana or the simply the popular La Vuelta is entering its sixth day. The three week stage race is having its 71st edition this year, enjoying the attribute of one of the oldest cycling events in history. It dates back to 1935 when the first La Vuelta, inspired by the events such as Giro d’Italia and Tour de France was organized. Many years after, the race became as prestigious as these two and is currently considered to be one of the three events with highest reputation in the cycling world. Cycling fans, sports fans and all of you who simply like to bet on sports in Spain can now lay back and enjoy one of the most spectacular sports events in the world.

Unlike the previous two years when the race started in the south of Spain, in Andalucía, this year’s Vuelta started from the north. Galicia was home of the first stage, the team time trial in Castrelo de Mino and will continue hosting the race in the upcoming days until the race moves to Asturias.

La Vuelta 2016 going well for Gianni Meersman

After winning the Tour de France this year, Chris Froome came to La Vuelta 2016 as a small favorite. His popularity in the UK is constantly growing, becoming probably one of the most famos cyclist, together with Rebecca James in Great Britain, at the moment. The expectations of many British cycling fans as well as the prognosis of some internet betting sites in UK were going in the direction that Froome might become the first man, who after 38 years won the Tour de France and La Vuleta a Espana in the same season.

Yet, so far he didn’t show much of his potential or might be the case that he keeps his best for last. After yesterday’s flat stage from Viveiro to Lugo in Galicia long 171.3 km, he is on the third position on the race with 4 seconds behind the Spanish Alejandro Valverde from Movistar and 32 seconds behind the current leader, the Columbian Darwin Atapuma from BMC.

A massive crush chaos in the end of yesterday’s race made the Columbian lose a precious minute of his leading time. The one who avoided this chaos best was Gianni Meersman. The 30 years old Belgian won for the second time this year at La Vuelta, after winning the second stage from Ourense to Baiona.

What is peculiar about Meersman victories is that both stages were flat, being a nice indication of where the Belgian can be considered a favorite next time. Today we are entering in a hilly stage long 163.2 km from Monforte de Lemos to Luintra (Ribera Sacra). This stage is famous for the wonderful canyon landscapes of the Sil River but also for the strong wind following the cyclist until the finish line. Whether Meersman will manage to be in the top then today is something we will see in the afternoon.

Betting odds for the stage 6 of La Vuelta 2016

As usual world-wide sportsbooks are full of betting categories for the cycling races especially for those of the Grand Tour such as La Vuelta a Espana. Online sportsbooks in Australia such as Sportsbet give greatest chances for winning today’s stage to Jose Goncalves and Philippe Gilbert both having odds of 11.00. Meersman is third favorite with 15.00 while Valverde is fifth with 19.00.

• Chris Froom is La Vuelta favorite no.1

• Meersman the best so far on the flat stages

• Atapuma still in possession of the read jersey

NetBet even offers possibility for Head2Head betting on different stages of the race . Thus, for today’s race you can bet on the duel between some of the general favorites Nairo Quintana (1.71) and Alberto Contador (2.05), or Alejandro Valverde (1.32) and Chris Froome (3.00).

When the favorites for final winner are concerned both sportsbooks are sharing more or less the same opinion. For NetBet the top favorites are Chris Froome (2.20), Nairo Quintana (3.60) and Johan Esteban Chavez (4.35) while on Sportsbet these last two have the same chances being evaluated with betting odds of 4.00 both.