One of the things I love about sports betting is that there is always a new challenge around the corner.

I have just come out of a very tough and expensive 3 week cycle around France and after just a few days rest it is on to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Olympics are not traditionally a big betting event, but they are certainly fun to dabble at and if you follow the right people on Twitter you may just make a few rand.

Some of the highlights I am looking forward to include the Men’s Mountain Bike race where Mathieu Van Der Poel is an 1/1 favourite to beat Tom Pidcock, both well know road racers. Third favourite in the betting is Nino Schurter who has dominated the sport over the last decade but is getting on a bit.

Van Der Poel was incredible in the first week of the Tour de France and I think he is a worthy favourite here, but watch out for South African, Alan Hatherly priced at a massive 300/1, but certainly with a chance of finishing in the top 5 or even on the podium if any of the favourites have bad luck.

I haven’t had time to apply myself to the Men’s Cycling Road race yet, but note that Tour de France winner, Pogacar is a 5/1 favourite ahead of Wout Van Aert at 33/4 and Primoz Roglic at 7/2. It will be interesting to see if Roglic has fully recovered from his Tour de France crash. My pick at this stage sits just behind that trio in the betting, Remco Evenepoel of Belgium priced at 12/1.

I will have a keen eye on the Women’s Waterpolo where two of my daughter’s friends, Captain, Jordan Wedderburn and Shakira January will be playing. Having watched these girls hone their skills over the years I am very excited to see how they go in this once in a lifetime experience. No bets for me here.

Rugby Sevens is always exciting and the BlitzBoks are 7/2, with match betting also available.

There is plenty more to bet on of course including Athletics and Swimming and I can’t close this article off without a mention of the First Test between the Springboks and the Lions taking place this weekend, the Boks are slight underdogs at 11/10 for this one.

Twitter: @BrentGraham.

This article was written for the CitiGaming supplement of the Citizen Newspaper and was published on the 22 July 2021.

Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and sends a free weekly e-mail list just CLICK HERE to register