As the 2024 professional cycling calendar gets underway, all eyes turn to the year’s major races. Featuring different disciplines like road racing, mountain biking, track cycling, and more, the upcoming season promises excitement for fans everywhere. And for those in North Carolina now accessing the state’s newly launched sports betting apps, there are even more ways to get in on the two-wheeled action.
Giro d’Italia: A Classic Battle in Store
The Giro d’Italia stands as one of cycling’s most prestigious Grand Tours along with the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. As riders embark on the grueling three-week race composed of 21 gut-wrenching stages, we can expect an intense fight between the top contenders.
Key favorites include defending champion Joseph Times of Great Britain looking to capture back-to-back titles with his well-rounded abilities. Meanwhile, Marco Santi of Italy will have the home country crowd behind him – if he can overcome some shaky time trial results last season. And emerging young rider Filippo Ganna could very well shake up the General Classification leaders with his explosive climbing power.
As North Carolina sports betting apps continue rolling out, they are offering a slew of Giro d’Italia odds and prop bets. Local fans can wager on stage winners, King of the Mountain classifications, points leaders, and more throughout the extensive race.
Downhill World Championships Descend on France
Moving from the roads to the mountain trails, downhill mountain bike racing sees its world champions crowned annually. In 2024, the Worlds course promises to be among the toughest ever with the venue moving to the legendary slopes of Les Gets, France in the heart of the Alps.
27-year-old defending champ Louise Anderson of New Zealand will face extremely difficult competition, including 22-year-old upstart Sophie Rivas who has been posting record run times already during this World Cup season. Other top contenders include Canada’s Jonas Blair and Slovenia’s Lucija Jurisic.
The high-speed downhill format and massive jumps on the France Worlds track allow for incredible displays of technique and courage. With North Carolina mobile sportsbooks offering exclusive odds on head-to-head matchups and podium finishes throughout the competition, Tar Heel State cycling fans have plenty to bet on.
Paralympic Showcase Led by UK Phenom
In addition to professional racing, 2024 also brings the Paralympic showcase of incredible athleticism among para-cyclists. Having taken home an astounding 11 medals from the 2020 Games, all indications point to British phenom Alex Hyde defending his Time Trial and Road Race gold medals dominantly.
However, hungry competitors like Australia’s Michael Nicholson (silver medalist in 2020) and Polish rider Pawel Mieszek (bronze medalist in 2020) have stepped up training to try and knock Hyde from his throne atop the C4 para-cycling category.
With North Carolina online sportsbooks now in full operation, locals can expect handicapping and odds on various Paralympic cycling events as the Games draw closer. The remarkable resolve displayed by these athletes promises to inspire…and also deliver exciting wagering potential based on head-to-head matchups.
Track Cycling in the Second Year of Revamped Tournament
On the velodrome circuit, Track Cycling saw massive changes in 2023 with a new Champions League series reformatting the calendar. Now set to embark on its second edition, fans can expect even better racing as sprinters and endurance riders alike vie for season-long points and prize money.
Defending men’s Sprint champion Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands will battle young Australian Matthew Glaetzer while women’s Sprint leader Emma Hinze of Germany matches up against Canada’s rising star Lauriane Genest. In the endurance-focused Madison event, all eyes are on Spain’s Eloy Teruel and Belgium’s Fabio Van Den Bossche in a battle between the two preeminent cycling nations.
With international Velodromes hosting events across Europe, Asia, and North America, the action will be non-stop. North Carolina mobile wagering apps stand ready to offer odds on each Champions League round as well as overall tour winners across every discipline.
New Rivalries brewing at Mountain Bike World Cups
Of course, traditional disciplines like mountain biking continue to see fierce World Cup competition annually. Emerging rivalries are sure to deliver must-see showdowns at all nine worldwide venues in 2024.
On the men’s side, reigning overall champion Luca Shaw of the USA finds two rising young Europeans snapping at his heels in the powerful forms of Simon Adreassen (Denmark) and Gustav Wildhaber (Switzerland). Meanwhile, among women French phenom Marine Cabirou looks for a third straight title but hungry challengers Alexandra Marxs (Germany) and Ayana Onozuka (Japan) have her number after claiming recent victories.
With nine heart-pounding rounds over three continents, there will be non-stop opportunities for North Carolina sportsbooks to provide odds on race winners and overall tour finish positions. Not to mention the odds of the heated individual rivalries that continue brewing.
Conclusion: Who Takes Home the Glory?
As we gear up for the 2024 professional cycling season, the list of contenders across every major race and discipline demonstrates the sport’s expanding global popularity. And for fans in North Carolina, the addition of legalized sports betting apps means more ways to engage with and enjoy the action.
Will upstart phenoms unseat incumbent champions across iconic events like the Giro d’Italia, UCI World Cups, and Paralympic Games? Can traditional powers hold onto supremacy amidst rising talent from cycling’s new frontiers? With so many uncertainties and thrilling head-to-head matchups, only one thing is certain: two-wheeled excitement awaits at the highest level.
Stay tuned as races unfold over the coming months. And be sure to check the latest North Carolina mobile sportsbook odds on all the heart-pounding bicycle action yet to come in 2024!
Photos © BORA – hansgrohe / Sprintcycling
