Vuelta 2022

19 August 2022 |

The dust has barely settled from one of the most exciting editions of the Tour de France in recent history. Roll on the Vuelta.

The season’s third and final grand tour is lining up to be another one for the books. Reigning champion and three-time winner, Primoz Roglic is looking to make it four in a row. However, there is a long list of riders who want to change the narrative this year. Multiple general classification (GC) podium finishers, along with 5 past winners are all in the mix for what promises to be an enthralling 3 weeks of racing. Known for its association with difficult climbs, the Vuelta also traditionally offers redemption to those who have had a sub-par year. Many a team are in need of results here, in order to deem the year a success. This fact no doubt will ensure another exciting edition of this race.

We covered the 2022 Tour de France in a detailed article for your interest. Or why not go back in time and have a look at Tour de France 2021 or even the Giro in 2021.

La Vuelta 2022 Route

The 2022 version of the Vuelta is the 77th edition of this event. Taking place from Friday the 19th of August to Sunday the 11th of September, this year the race kicks off with a team time trial in the city of Utrecht. The next 2 stages remain in the Netherlands and are flat affairs. Moving onto Spain, and the terrain kicks up. Stage 6 offers the first uphill finish of the race. The GC picture will begin to take shape from here.

Known for the brutality of its climbs, this year’s Vuelta is no exception. The peloton will have to navigate no less than 9 hilltop finishes. Riders who are below par will be found out quickly. Also lying in wait this year is an individual time trial of 30km. Specialists against the clock will be lining up to make the most of this stage. The Vuelta concludes with a sprint stage, finishing in Madrid.

Contenders and recent form

A number of riders line up this year with a realistic chance of winning the GC. None more so that Primoz Roglic. The defending champion has made this race his own over the last 3 years. Primoz still dreams of success at the Tour de France, but his recent bad luck there has hampered his aspirations. It is a different story at the Vuelta. Roglic can equal the record of 4 Vuelta wins this year if he is successful in his title defence. The only question is whether he has recovered adequately following his crash and subsequent abandonment of this year’s Tour.

Giro 2019

Richard Carapaz, the 2019 Giro winner is probably the biggest contender to Roglic. A podium finisher in multiple grand tours, the Ecuadorian should enter the race in decent form. Just missing out on the overall victory in this year’s Giro, Carapaz is hungry to occupy the top step of a grand tour yet again.

Jai Hindley, if he replicates his form shown at the Giro this year will be hard to beat. So the Australian’s victory at the Giro proved that his second place in 2020 was no fluke. The racing in Spain is arguably more unforgiving, so it remains to be seen whether Hindley can mix it up in the final grand tour of the season.

Vuelta 2022 Talent

Belgian ‘wunderkind’ Remco Evenepoel is a bit of an unknown entity. The prodigal talent has yet to shine in a grand tour, but many believe it is only a matter of time before he makes his mark. His swashbuckling win at this year’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege was a sight to behold. If he can reproduce some of this form, we could be in for an exciting time. The only question mark in Remco’s case is whether he can consistently hang with the pure climbers over 3 weeks.

Portuguese powerhouse Joao Almeida could realistically be in the mix too. Known for his strong time trialling and tenacity, Almeida has shown in the past that he can be competitive when the race goes uphill. So if he manages to hold it together, he could be on the podium at the end of 3 weeks.

Simon Yates, the 2018 Vuelta winner would love to add a second grand tour title to his name. The Brit is, on his day one of the best climbers in the world. His impressive win in the opening time trial at this year’s Giro show’s that he is not merely a 1 trick pony. If he comes into the Vuelta with some sort of form, he could challenge for the overall title.

Other riders with a shot at the podium are Enric Mas, Mikel Landa and Miguel Angel Lopez. While the overall title is perhaps beyond their reach, their respective abilities should keep them in the fight at the front of the peloton.

Saying goodbye

A sub-story to this year’s GC battle is the fact that both Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde are retiring at the end of this season. Each a previous winner of this race, they will look for any opportunity to make one last statement. A stage win for either would be a fitting end to a successful career.

The form of the GC contenders may take a few days to be noted. However, one thing is for certain- the racing will be red hot from day 1. The team that provides a strong base off of the opening TTT will have already scored an advantage for their GC man. So we cannot wait to see how it all plays out.

Vuelta 2022 Bookie’s Favourite

Bet and Win had a look at who the bookies favour for the win, however there are many stages over 23 days. Here are the Top 5 riders:

  • Primoz Roglic
  • Remco Evenepoel
  • Jai Hindley
  • Richard Carapaz
  • Joao Almeida

Moreover 23 days is a long time with some tough stretches for these riders, and we have seen time and time again how standings can change in a split second. So for all you cycle lovers head over to our best betting sites listed below, we have done detailed reviews for your perusal:

100% Bonusup to R2000 Use code: BETWIN100
"Betting made simple"! Bet.co.za brings you the best online betting options across a varied range of sporting events and markets
  • Exclusive Power Bet Bonus
  • Great features, including Cashout and Bet Builder
  • Bet Vegas Live Games
R50 FreeSign-up Bet
Excellent sports betting, slots and games platform, operated by the prestigious Peermont Group
  • Excellent mobile betting experience
  • Lucky Numbers, Betgames, Slots & Live Games
  • Live Betting on many sports
R25 Free Bonus +50 Free Spins
Leading South African bookmaker who offers the best in sports betting and casino games entertainment - a must for every punter!
  • Great, competitive odds
  • Generous, regular promotions
  • Live In-Play, BetGames, Lucky Numbers
R50 + 100 free spins + deposit bonuses up to R5000
100% African-owned and run bookmaker with a wide and varied offering
  • Wide range of bonuses and promotions
  • Slots, Instant & Live Games
  • Lots of special features
R25 Sign UpSports Bonus Bet
Gbets is part of the Goldrush Group, one of the largest and most trusted gaming companies in South Africa.
  • 100% Bonus up to R1000
  • Live In Multi Play View
  • Great mobile betting experience
100% Sports Free Betor Casino Games Bonus
One of the world's leading bookmakers with an incredibly vast selection of sports and games.
  • Optimised for mobile + data free offer
  • Generous bonuses and promotions
  • Jika Sports, BetGames, Lucky Numbers
Free R50 bet+ 50 free spins+ 100% deposit bonus
South Africa’s one stop betting destination with over 1 million sports betting opportunities; best Premier League Odds
  • Good bonuses with fair wagering requirements
  • Slots and Live Casino Games
  • 24/7 support

What we know is that we are in for some exciting weeks ahead! Goodluck, have fun and be responsible. We touched base on Vuelta 2022 in the August 2022 Sport Preview article, and there we list what else is still to grace our attention till the end of August. Have a look at these for the best odds and promos Betway, Fafabet, Hollywoodbets, Supabets, Gbets and bet.co.za.

Related News

Supersport here for Her
In this article, we will focus on SuperSport’s Here For Her initiative. This initiative is geared towards promoting women’s sports and providing greater visibility to female athletes. Which we are more than on...
Sport Preview June 2023
With so much happening in the sport world this year it is a great idea to keep a sport calendar in order not to miss out. In our May 2023 Sport Preview we saw the end of the HSBC 7's for the year and the fantastic Giro...
30 May 2023 |
Ultra Golf Championship (UGC)
Golf is a sport that has been around for centuries and is known for its leisurely pace. However, a new type of golf is revolutionizing the way we play and introducing a new level of energy and excitement to the game....
15 May 2023 |
HDJ promotion 2023
The Hollywoodbets Durban July 2023 is fast approaching! As the proud new sponsor since 2022, Hollywoodbets do not disappoint. Last year was a raging success so we don't expect anything less in...