Giro d'Italia 2024 Prediction and Betting Tips: Three tips for the first Grand Tour of the year

The 107th Giro d'Italia begins on Saturday and the consensus is that barring illness, injury or bad luck, UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar will claim the overall victory.

Pogacar’s 2024 form has helped him win the Volta a Catalunya stage race, as well as seal one-day success in Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

His imperious form and the travails of his rivals suggest he could complete the first leg of his quest to become the first rider to win both the Giro and Tour de France since Marco Pantani in 1998. 

Therefore, it makes sense to look elsewhere for value, so here are three bets to consider that cover between now and the final stage on May 26. 

Pogacar's anticipated domination means it is worth looking elsewhere for value and there could be some in backing Ineos Grenadiers' Thymen Arensman to win the Young Rider prize.

Last year, the Dutchman finished second to Joao Almeida in the battle for the white jersey and sixth overall.

His biggest rivals look set to be home hope Antonio Tiberi and Belgium's Cian Uijtdebroeks, but Arensman appears further ahead in his development and has clocked some decent results in 2024. The 24-year-old was fifth in the Algarve and sixth in Tirreno-Adriatico.

With the external focus on his co-leader and last year's runner-up Geraint Thomas, he can afford to go about his business and may also be worthy of consideration for a top-three finish.

Kaden Groves won a stage and recorded three other top-10s before withdrawing in the middle week of last year's race due to stomach issues.

He always seemed to be playing catch-up to Jonathan Milan, who took the points jersey after winning stage two, but that was also the Italian's sole victory in the 2023 Giro, leaving a feeling of what might have been had Groves been able to continue.

The Australian hit back to win three times and take the points prize at the Vuelta a Espana and could add the Giro's equivalent to his palmares.

With Jasper Philipsen Alpecin-Deceuninck's undisputed number one sprinter, Groves has to take his chances elsewhere and could get several in Italy.

Caleb Ewan and Fabio Jakobsen are both elite sprinters, but there are always doubts over their ability to get through the mountains while, despite suggestions to the contrary, each may also withdraw early with an eye on the Tour.

Groves climbs well, so the mountains won't be an issue and his consistency makes him a real player in the points markets.

Lidl-Trek have made no bones about their intention to win stages at the Giro, with winter signing Milan's pursuit of a repeat victory in the Points Classification the team's top priority.

Their lack of a general classification contender also frees up other riders to attack and Juan Pedro Lopez will target a place in the breakaway when the race reaches the mountains.

The 26-year-old, who led the 2022 Giro for 10 days before finishing an impressive 10th and winning the Young Rider classification, arrives on the back of taking the overall at the Tour of the Alps.

Lopez may not be able to sustain a three-week assault on the GC, but a maiden Grand Tour stage victory is well within his capabilities.