Brownlee and Jorgensen are odd-on favourites... according to the bookies

Fancy a flutter?

The talking is almost over, the training is done - it's almost time to determine who will collect the fifth Gold medals for the sport of triathlon at the Olympic Games. If you 'know' who is going to win, and you want to bet on it... you can.

All of the major UK online bookmakers are offering odds across all of the Olympic Sports, including triathlon, if you want to add to your excitement by speculating a few quid on the outcome.

So, who are the bookmakers favourites? Not surprisingly, it is Alistair Brownlee and Gwen Jorgensen as clear Gold medal favourites. Both are odd-on, with the odds suggesting that Jorgensen is a stronger favourite for Gold than Brownlee in their eyes.

If you are sure that Gwen is going to deliver, if you want to win big then you are going to also have to risk a lot to get it. With odds of around 4/9 currently at most outlets, that means that if you wanted to 'win' £100, then yoou would have to be prepared to lose £225 (i.e. for every £9 stake, a win would return only £4 - plus the original £9 back). While Gwen, in my opinion, has earned the right to be race favourite... they are not odds I'll be 'investing' in, given the quality of the competition, the nature of the course and the external factors which can impact the race.

For the men, while Alistair is a strong favourite, the bookmakers are also indicating a strong belief in Mario Mola. Even with Alistair in the field, a Mola win would 'only' just over double your money currently (bet £10, win £21 potentially). Jonathan Brownlee (13/2) is also a clear favourite for third, which if that were to follow the script, would result in another GBR-ESP-GBR podium, as we had in London four years ago.

These odds of course can change rapidly, with betting patterns quickly 'moving the market', plus of course if you hunt around you may find better odds available. Last week you could back the reigning Olympic Champion, Nicola Spirig, at what seemed like very generous odds of 33/1. Her odds have been slashed since then with most outlets now offering just 12/1.

I'm reminded of my words from just over 12 months ago in Baku, Azerbaijan: 

"What stood out for me in this race was the biking power of Spirig. She simply rode away from the pack at will, and from the moment she made that early attack to join Norden and Klamer, it never looked as though anyone was capable of going with her. That is the sort of ability that the course in Rio will reward. If Jorgensen wants the Spirig crown in Rio next year, she’ll have to earn it."

Olympic Games Triathlon
Betting Odds (as at Wednesday 17th August 2016, from BetFair.com)

MEN - Racing Thursday 18th August (3pm UK time)

• Alistair Brownlee: 8/11
• Mario Mola: 21/10
• Jonathan Brownlee: 13/2
• Richard Murray: 11/1
• Vincent Luis: 12/1
• Dmitry Polyanskiy: 18/1
• Fernando Alarza: 20/1
• Crisanto Grajales: 20/1
• Aaron Royle: 33/1
• Ryan Bailie: 33/1

Latest Odds

WOMEN - Racing Sunday 20th August (3pm UK time)

• Gwen Jorgensen: 4/9
• Flora Duffy: 7/1
• Helen Jenkins: 9/1
• Nicola Spirig: 12/1
• Andrea Hewitt: 12/1
• Non Stanford: 16/1
• Katie Zaferes: 16/1
• Vicky Holland: 20/1
• Ashleigh Gentle: 20/1
• Emma Moffatt: 40/1
• Lisa Norden: 50/1

Latest Odds