Details

Published on Sunday, 01 February 2015 00:13

Grand Prix Cycliste La Marseillaise 

Allauch to Marseille

Sunday 1st February 2015, 139.7kms

I wasn't going to do a preview for this race as I wasn't sure any bookie would price it up seeing as there have been no prices for the Majorca races. But Paddy Power have priced it up so I'm going to take a late and brief look to see if there is anyone appeals. 

Last year's race was won in a mass gallop by Kenneth Vanbilsen of Topsport Vlaanderen, marginally winning from Baptiste Planckaert and Sam Dumoulin. Vanbilsen returns this year again, but in the colours of Cofidis after signing for them for 2015. Planckaert has been made favourite this year by PP at just 9/2, with Vanbilsen at 10/1. 

The race generally ends in a sprint, but it has been won in the past from breaks, such as when Roy won in 2011 and Hivert won in 2010. Mikael Chérel almost won it from a break last year but was reeled in with just 2kms to go to set up the sprint. 

The Route

There is a seriously poor amount of information on the route but it looks like it is the same route and profile as last year's, the route doesn't change much. It's a rolling course with three main climbs to get over - the Col du Pas de la Couelle after approximately 60kms, the main climb of the day of the Col de l'Espigoulier after 87kms and the Col des Bastides with just 30kms to go. There is one more climb to get over with just 10kms to go, but once over it, it is all downhill to the finish in Marseilles. The finish is uphill though making it a sprint for the strong men with good winter training under their belts. You can see the uphill sprint inthe video below, it comes at the 1'28" mark. Look out also for the crash of Bilboa of Caja Rural on the right hand side who sort of just falls in to Arthur Vichot!

Route Map

Contenders

It's almost impossible to pick a winner from this race, as it is wide open again. It could end in a breakaway winner, and that could be any of the riders in the race almost, or it could end in a sprint, but as we saw last year, it's very hard to pick who will come out on top.

I can't be having Planckaert at just 9/2, he's not exactly prolific. Roy Jans at 6/1 is second favourite, and although he might not be a household name, due to the fact he rides for Pro-Continental team Wanty Groupe Gobert, he had an excellent 2014. A number of top five placings, among them 2nd in the Belgian Nationals, 2nd in a stage of the Ruta del Sol and 4th in Paris-Tours. He is very capable of a top 3 tomorrow if he can get to the sprint finish with the leaders. 

3rd favourite is Vanbilsen but I can't trust him to be up there again at just 10/1 and after that it really starts to become a lottery. Two big names that lurk just down the betting a little who might be interesting are Arthur Vichot at 18/1 and Tony Gallopin at 16/1. Vichot is always involved in the finish of this race it seems, taking 5th, 12th, 3rd, 5th in the last 4 years. The former French champion is still only 26 and has a strong FDJ team to help pull back any breaks and lead him out. He's worth a small investment at that price. 

Gallopin had a great 2014 and could well be involved in the finish here again this year. He is a classy rider who could attack near the finish or could get involved in the sprint finish and is also worth a small investment at 16/1. Jonathan Hivert at 18/1, Marco Marcato at 22/1 and Michael Van Staeyen at 25/1 could well be in the top 10 also. 

One last bet I can't resist though is Ryan Mullen at 80/1. He is a star in the making and will be winning races before long, and the an Post man might not be available at 80/1 too often in the future.. It's a fun bet at a big price.

Recommendations:

0.5pts each way on Arthur Vichot at 18/1 with PP

0.2pts each-way on Tony Gallopin at 16/1 with PP

1pt win on Roy Jans at 6/1 

0.15pts each-way on Ryan Mullen at 80/1