Olympics betting: Chris Froome, Lizzie Armitstead and Adam Peaty to begin gold rush for Team GB
While 2012 will go down as Team GB’s most golden Olympics, for a while it seemed as though it might be a damp squib.
There were four and a half days of competition until a British athlete claimed the most coveted medal, when rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning started the gold rush.
We shouldn’t have such a delay this time around, and Britain could even have a treble of golds by Sunday night.
Chris Froome won bronze in the 2012 men’s cycling time trial, but since then has claimed three out of four Tours de France.
He’s a short favourite for the time trial on Wednesday, but I like the longer 12/1 with Betway for him to win the men’s road race tomorrow.
After dominating the field in France he’s near unparalleled at the moment, and with trusty Team Sky lieutenants Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard by his side, Froome will certainly be in the mix for gold.
Lizzie Armitstead was only cleared to compete this week after a missed drugs test was struck off her record, but the fallout over the controversy could spur her to victory.
The 2012 women’s road race silver medallist – Team GB’s first gong of the games – is 4/1 with Betway to go one better in the same race on Sunday.
Armitstead is the world, Commonwealth, and Women’s Tour champion so her class is undoubted – and the Yorkshire lass has the grit and determination to stick two fingers up to her critics.
There’s no such thing as a certain gold medal, but in Adam Peaty we have something close to it.
The 21-year-old swimmer has dominated 100m breaststroke recently, owning six out of the top 10 fastest times in history.
He was also crowned European champion in May.
He’s available at 40 in Sporting Index’s 50 index (where it’s 50 points for a gold medal, 25 for a silver, and 10 for a bronze), and I will be buying.
Pointers
Froome, Men’s Road Race, 12/1 (Betway)
Armitstead, Women’s Road Race, 4/1 (Betway)
Buy Peaty 100m Breaststoke 40 (Sporting Index)