Giro d’Italia 2022 – All you Need to Know
A Hungarian start to this legendary bicycle race was supposed to happen in 2020, but the pandemic changed the organisers’ plans. This isn’t the first time the race is starting on foreign soil, as it has happened several times during the last decade.
It’s clear that we’re now in an age of international starts for all Grand Tours. Regardless, our Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips are waiting for you.
Because we love to approach cycling betting scientifically, it was only right that we also came up with the ultimate Giro d’Italia 2022 betting guide. Whether it’s the top cycling bookmakers or details about the route – you’ll get everything you need and more.
For pros and vets, singles and cheeky accas, Betting.com is your one-stop-shop for Giro d’Italia predictions. But let’s start from the basics, shall we?
Best Sportsbooks to Bet on the Giro d’Italia 2022
Bookmakers often disregard cycling, and for no good reason. Even though it’s not as glitzy as footy is, it has a strong fan base and a myriad of opportunities to make a profit. This makes it one of the most popular sports amongst punters.
And to fully use all its benefits and enjoy Giro d’Italia predictions, you need a good bookmaker. But “best Giro d’Italia bookmaker” and “best overall bookmaker” aren’t the same. You want to aim for a betting site that has proven that it can handle cycling on a consistent basis.
That’s why our team of experts scans bookies year-round, just to see how they treat Grand Tours and other races. This research also involves tracking the bookies’ odds, market variety, and other factors the average punter might be interested in. Once we’re happy with what we see, we make a shortlist.
Only then do we know which sites for Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips to recommend to our readers. We also pay attention to other things, such as deposit options, customer support, UI, and everything else that impacts your experience.
So what are the best bookies for Giro d’Italia predictions? Well, according to Betting.com’s research, bet365 and Coral seem like decent candidates for the top spot. Both brands are reputable and expected to post some impressive Giro d’Italia 2022 betting odds.
If you want something different, Paddy Power and LeoVegas are both great choices. Paddy Power has been a favourite in the UK for some time, but LeoVegas is climbing the ranks at blistering speeds. Unibet has also performed admirably in our tests and deserves a mention.
This makes up for a solid top five, one that’ll keep you going throughout the three-week period of the race. And with Giro d’Italia predictions at Betting.com, you can make use of any offer you want.
But before you do all that, let’s see what you can do with those betting tips and how to approach your slip at this year’s first Grand Tour.
How to Bet on the Giro d’Italia 2022
The most prestigious part of Giro d’Italia predictions are the Majors. These categories are what cyclists dream of, as they get to wear the traditional jersey if they win. Each category that awards a jersey is considered Major. There are several different colours, and they are assigned to the following categories.
General Classification
Technically considered as ‘overall winner,’ this category is the most prestigious. Times for each Stage are added up, and the cyclist with the lowest overall time wins. Time penalties and rule breaches are added if there are any. The winner gets the prestigious maglia rosa (pink jersey).
Points Classification
This is where the secondary categories start. The first classification relies on adding time, but this one is all about points in each daily Stage. Depending on their position, cyclists are also assigned points (1st – 20, 2nd – 19, 3rd – 18, …, 20th – 1). This is where Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips get really exciting! The Maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey) is the crowning achievement for the winner of this category.
Mountains Classification
One of the most desirable traits in a cyclist is handling uphill climbs well. That’s how the Mountains Classification was born. There are a few designated climbs each year, and points from just these races are added up. The steeper the climb and the later in a Stage it is, the more points it awards. This is because it’s hard to climb a mountain when you’ve already been on the road for multiple hours. Traditionally, winners received the maglia verde (green shirt), but a 2012 sponsorship with Banca Mediolanum, an Italian bank, caused it to become the maglia azzura (blue shirt).
Young Rider Classification
While most competitors are veterans and Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips favour them in general, there’s also an emphasis on youth. That’s why, every year, the best driver younger than 25 gets the maglia bianca (white jersey). A rare group of cyclists won the shirt two times, but most manage to squeeze in a single win.
However, Giro d’Italia predictions don’t relate to just individual achievements. As you probably know, the cyclists ride for different teams. And it’s always in the interest of top teams to poach the top competitors, as points are always on the line.
Team Classifications in Giro d’Italia 2022
Just like in Formula 1, the cyclists themselves get all the attention. However, also like in Formula 1, they can’t achieve much without a solid team.
Whether it’s physios, mechanics, strategists, or whoever – the best gravitate towards the best. And if you’re interested in orchestrated efforts, Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips exist for team classifications, too.
Currently, there is only one main team category – the Trofeo Fast Team. It works just like General Classification rankings, but only for teams. The times of all the cyclists are added up, and the team with the lowest cumulative time takes home the crown.
Until 2017, there was also the Trofeo Super Team, a team version of the Points Classification. However, it was discontinued because there wasn’t much interest in it.
There are some minor classifications from time to time, but they never last very long. It’s just the organizers of the race experimenting. And who knows, by following the 2022 Giro d’Italia at Betting.com, you might witness the birth of a category that actually stays in the mix!
But the most important thing is – now you know what you can bet on. This allows you to narrow your focus and try out a classification or two. To know where to look, though, you need to know who’s in the mix to be the best.
Who are Favorites to Win This Years’ Giro d’Italia 2022
Since Egan Bernal is out to focus on the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia predictions have Joao Almedia as the most likely winner, along with Simon Yates and 2019 winner Richard Carapaz also having a decent shot. In terms of teams, the field isn’t all that clear yet. However, we predict that Victorious and Movistar are the teams to watch.
Keep in mind that this is a prediction before the actual race begins. Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips will change a lot when the whole thing begins, and we’ll update the guide each day.
As we wait in anticipation, let’s take a look at the route and this year’s stage. It’s going to be one for the ages, that’s for sure!
Giro d’Italia 2022 – About the Route
This is officially the 14th time a Giro d’Italia race starts on foreign soil. Last year, a Sicilia start got switched for Torino, as the already planned Budapest start couldn’t happen due to COVID-19. In 2022, however, everything is set for the long-awaited Hungarian stages. There will also be a slight detour into Slovenia, as it shares the Alpes mountain chain with Italy.
There will be a total of seven sprint stages, with just 26km of time-measured racing. Here’s how the route looks, separated by stage types:
- 6 Mountains Stages
- 7 Flat Stages
- 6 Hills Stages
- 2 ITTs
However, to understand all of our Giro d’Italia predictions, you need to approach each stage meticulously. In the following part, we’ll take a look at each stage individually. As the race progresses, each section will be promptly updated. Let’s go!
Giro d’Italia 2022 Stages & Highlights
| STAGE | ROUTE |
|---|---|
| Stage 1, Fri May 6 | Budapest – Visegrád |
| Stage 2, Sat May 7 | Budapest – Budapest |
| Stage 3, Sun May 8 | Kaposvár – Balatonfüred |
| Stage 4, Tue May 10 | Avola – Etna |
| Stage 5, Wed May 11 | Catania – Messina |
| Stage 6, Thu May 12 | Palmi – Scalea (Riviera del Cedri) |
| Stage 7, Fri May 13 | Diamante – Potenza |
| Stage 8, Sat May 14 | Napoli – Napoli |
| Stage 9, Sun May 15 | Isernia – Blockhaus |
| Stage 10, Tue May 17 | Pescara – Jesi |
| Stage 11, Wed May 18 | Santarcangelo di Romagna – Reggio Emilia |
| Stage 12, Thu May 19 | Parma – Genova |
| Stage 13, Fri May 20 | Sanremo – Cueno |
| Stage 14, Sat May 21 | Santena – Torino |
| Stage 15, Sun May 22 | Rivarolo Canavese – Cogne |
| Stage 16, Tue May 24 | Salò – Aprica |
| Stage 17, Wed May 25 | Ponte Di Legno – Lavarone |
| Stage 18, Thu May 26 | Borgo Valsugana – Treviso |
| Stage 19, Fri May 27 | Marano Lagunare – Santuario Di Castelmonte |
| Stage 20, Sat May 28 | Belluno – Marmolada |
| Stage 21, Sun May 29 | Verona – Verona |
Stage 1: Budapest – Visegrad (195km, flat, 2*)
An exciting opener with an ambitious climb to Visegrad Citadel will immediately highlight contenders for the pink jersey. The flat part isn’t that hard, though.
Stage 2: Budapest – Budapest (9.2km, ITT, 3*)
Chrono specialists will have a real challenge buzzing through the streets of Budapest. It’s almost entirely flat, with a slight incline after 8km.
Stage 3: Kaposvár – Balatonfüred (201km, flat, 1*)
Perhaps the fastest Stage of the whole race, it features mostly flat terrain, with a 3.1% 1.6km climb in the end. It’s followed by a rest day.
Stage 4: Avola – Etna (170km, mountain, 4*)
The first significant challenge of the 2022 Giro, we’re bound to see a large part of the pack drop off here. Expect a breakaway or two around this time.
Stage 5: Catania – Messina (174km, flat, 2*)
This route is mostly flat, except for a climb around the midway point. Compared to the last couple of years, the finish is much farther away from the summit of Portella Mandrazzi.
Stage 6: Palmi – Scalea (192km, flat, 2*)
Coastal lines are perhaps the highlight of the Giro every year. This one features a 17km sprint and a possibility of strong wings causing a crash or two.
Stage 7: Diamante – Potenza (196km, hills, 4*)
One of the most difficult stages, the road to Potenza features a quick elevation gain of 4500m, which is guaranteed to weed out the weak.
Stage 8: Naples – Naples (153km, hills, 2*)
It’s not often that we see a mix of cityscapes and hills, but this Naples stage has the best of both worlds.
Stage 9: Isernia – Blockhaus (189km, mountains, 5*)
A 13.7km climb can take out just about anyone, and deservingly makes this stage the toughest in the entire race.
Stage 10: Pescara – Jesi (196km, hills, 3*)
Half-flats and half-hills, this stage is tailor-made for strongman sprinters and goes along the majestic Adriatic coast.
Stage 11: Santarcangelo di Romagna – Reggio Emilia (203km, flat, 1*)
After all those hills, we could use a bit of flatness. It’s easy, straightforward, but still tiring for those who’ve had trouble on the hilly part of the Giro.
Stage 12: Parma – Genoa (202km, hills, 4*)
Three summits, a flat ending and the bone-chilling Valico di Trensasco make up for one of the most unique stages in 2022.
Stage 13: San Remo – Cuneo (150km, flat, 2*)
No one wants to climb over 3,100m, especially after the halfway point. But there’s just a single climb, so things aren’t that hard.
Stage 14: Santena – Turin (147km, hills, 4*)
Early crashes are a real possibility if someone uses the start to make a move. The road to Turin is filled with lots of climbs and drops.
Stage 15: Rivarolo Canavese – Cogne (178km, mountains, 4*)
Week two ends with a bang, as three mountains are set to break anyone that hasn’t used the flats to their advantage. There will be no major moves here.
Stage 16: Salò – Aprica (202km, mountains, 5*)
After the final rest day, the cyclists look to handle 5500m of elevation gain and the notorious Teglio climb, as well as the Santa Cristina. Probably the second hardest stage at this year’s Giro.
Stage 17: SPonte di Legno – Lavarone (168km, mountains, 4*)
The punishment doesn’t stop, with almost 4000m of climbing to be done. The first and second thirds will be relatively easy, though.
Stage 18: Borgo Valsugana – Treviso (151km, flat, 1*)
Contenders for the pink jersey can consider this a de facto rest day. Underdogs can make their moves here, as well.
Stage 19: Marano Lagunare – Castelmonte (177km, hills, 4*)
We head into Slovenia, as the Kolovrat mountains hide many traps and beauties. It’s the last chance to make a move, probably.
Stage 20: Belluno – Passo Fedaia/Marmolada (167km, mountains, 5*)
The names Passo Pordoi, Passo Fedaia, and Passo San Pellegrino are three climbs that strike fear into the heart of every cyclist. 4500km of elevation gain for one last push.
Stage 21: Verona – Verona (17.4km, ITT, 3*)
An ITT at the end may be borderline torture, but we’re sure the cyclists can handle it. Find out who’ll win the pink jersey in thrilling fashion!
Giro d’Italia 2022 Predictions
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Giro d’Italia 2022 Betting Strategy & Tips
A good way to see whether Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips have potential is to use the first two Stages for experimenting. For instance, you can back an underdog or predict someone crashing, if the bookie offers such a market. The point is – you should never judge the whole race from the start.
Last year, for instance, Egan Bernal didn’t win all the way until the 9th Stage. That’s why it’s good to analyse each Stage and try to predict what’s going to happen using Betting.com tips and each cyclist’s preferences.
Another key component of a successful strategy is timing. Before you pounce on the first Giro d’Italia predictions you see, make a plan. Which Stages are the most interesting? Should you want a couple to see how the field looks? Who is the best at Mountain Stages? All of this should affect your end decision.
Past Winners
An excellent way to approach each category is to know its past winners. This can help you correctly analyse Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips, as cyclists with a championship pedigree should never be counted out.
Here’s what happened in the last five editions of the Giro d’Italia.
| YEAR/CLASS | GENERAL | POINTS | MOUNTAINS | YOUNG RIDER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Egan Bernal | Peter Sagan | Geoffrey Bouchard | Egan Bernal |
| 2020 | Tao Geoghegan Hart | Arnaud Demare | Ruben Guerreiro | Tao Geoghegan Hart |
| 2019 | Richard Carapaz | Pascal Ackermann | Guilio Ciccone | Miguel Angel Lopez |
| 2018 | Chris Froome | Elia Viviani | Chris Froome | Miguel Angel Lopez |
| 2017 | Tom Dumoulin | Fernando Gaviria | Mikel Landa | Bob Jungles |
Conclusion
Giro d’Italia 2022 betting tips mark the best part of the year. Most football and basketball seasons are already over, and it’s when the cycling season really begins. This year, we have an interesting group of competitors, with pretty much the same teams fighting for the Trofeo Fast Team.
Egan Bernal is confirmed to be out, which leaves Simon Yates of Team BikeExchange as the top contender. Richard Carapaz and Joao Almedia are also in the bix, but we’re yet to see what’s going to transpire.
As always, Betting.com will regularly update the Giro d’Italia 2022 Stages & Highlights section after each Stage is done. You’ll know the times and key events from each day. That way, you can begin whenever you want and get the best opportunities.