Thursday, August 2, 2012

London 2012 Olympics: day six – live

02-August 2012
 
Andy Murray, one of Team GB's strong podium hopefuls, has moved within one match of securing at least a silver medal at the Olympic Games after dismantling Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in today's quarter-final.

The Scot - who lost only a month ago in the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer - is desperate to earn a gold medal at the Games after his plucky defeat at SW19, and must progress through the semi-final and the final to fulfill his dream.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic or France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga await the Scot now, and he could meet world No 1 Federer in the final.

Bradley Wiggins: Thousands of fans delight in Olympic cycling gold
Thousands of fans roared with delight in the Olympic Park as they watched on a big screen as Bradley Wiggins hammered the field to win the Olympic road cycling time trial and become Britain's most decorated Olympian with seven medal


London 2012 Olympics - First day at the Velodrome Odds and Betting Preview


LONDON, UK - Thursday sees the first day of track cycling at the Olympic Park's newly constructed velodrome. A total of five preliminary and qualification events kick-off proceedings in Stratford, before two evening medal events - the Women's team sprint at 17:59, and the Men's team sprint at 18.15. We look at the betting for both of the day's showpieces.

With Qualification and Round 1 to get through, punters might be wary of placing a bet on either sprint at this stage; but the bookies have the favourites fairly nailed down already. In the Men's team sprint, due to start at 1815 BST, the home support will be happy to see Team GB Men as favourites for a gold medal. They're odds on with most firms but Stan James are quoting a best pice of evens on them winning the event. Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny, and first-time Olympian Philip Mendes make up the British team - and after a sensational haul at the Beijing events, they look a fine medal prospect.

Right on their tails, however, are the Australian Men, who Bet365 and Ladbrokes are pricing as an 11/10 chance for gold. In their most recent outing they were the only team to record two final laps of under 13 seconds, and the Aussies would no doubt enjoy upsetting Thursday evening's party in East London.

According the British team, the Russian Men and New Zealand Men remain serious threats for the podium spots, but the bookies don't fancy them as real shots for a gold. Skybet have the Kiwis down as 20/1 shots for victory in the event, while Russia are 25/1 with Stan James in the same market.

Top of the pile in the women's event are Australia Women, priced at 6/4 with William Hill and Ladbrokes for the gold medal, and the team from down under will be full of confidence. Led by world record break Anna Meares, who set a new best time for the 500m time trial in April, Britain's arch rivals will be determined to land more than the one cycling medal they managed in Beijing.

But Team GB aren't next on the favourites list - that accolade belongs to Germany Women, who can be backed for victory at a best price 15/8 with Coral and William Hill. The Germans have enjoyed an impressive start to their overall Olympic campaign, but failed to pick up a medal in either the men's or women's road races last weekend.

Skybet and Coral are both rating Team GB Women's chances of victory in the event at 9/4. All eyes will no doubt be on star of the team Victoria Pendleton, described by the Daily Mail as a 'British track cycling beauty' - and a new design of 'self-heated shorts' is hoped to give the team a new-found edge over their rivals. Buoyed by what is sure to be a vocal home crowd, and the possibility of Team GB going for a first gold medal, they could be the smart bet.

Propping up the three favourites in the women's competition are the China Women, 10/1 with Skybet, and France Women, 40/1 with William Hill. Upset-hunters can opt for either of the unfancied South American duo of Columbia Women or Venezuela Women - both 200/1 shots at the same bookmaker







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