Best Bets for BMX Events at the Tokyo Olympics

The BMX freestyle event is one of the five new disciplines at the Olympics and the only cycling competition that’s not about speed.

Betting sites have their odds up and we also have them for the BMX racing competition. I explore the prices and share my predictions in this Olympic BMX betting preview.

This post features an overview of the main favorites and recommended bets based on their chances and the latest odds.

Let’s begin with the Olympic BMX odds available on the internet. There are four events in total, racing and freestyle competitions for both men and women.

The racing disciplines are both going to end on August 1. Here’s what the odds tell us about the men’s event.

There’s no clear favorite here and the odds for all of the likely winners are high. The athletes above are the realistic contenders and the price for everyone else is +2000 or higher.

The situation is a bit different in the women’s Olympic BMX racing event.

We have three contestants that are expected to fight for the gold medal – Laura Smulders, Alise Willoughby, and Mariana Pajon.

The freestyle events feature fewer athletes, so the odds for the most likely winners are much lower. Let’s begin with the men’s event.

Logan Martin is the man to beat here and I explain why later in this post.

Many believe that the women’s freestyle event is the easiest to predict and Hannah Roberts should dominate the competition. The bookies seem to agree, based on the latest odds.

All of the odds you see here are courtesy of Bovada, one of the top betting sites for the Tokyo Olympics.

Picking the winner of the men’s BMX racing event in Tokyo is a tough job. Connor Fields won the gold medal in 2016 and he will be back to defend his title.

The American was the best athlete in the sport in 2020, but his performance in 2021 has been inconsistent. Many believe that Sylvain Andre has been better this year and a quick look at the official BMX racing rankings confirms that.

The Frenchman has the experience and the skill to fight for the gold medal, but Niek Kimmann and Joris Daudet can’t be underestimated.

I would normally back the Dutchman at these odds, but Kimmann got injured in training and I’m not sure if he will be 100% fit for the race.

That’s why I intend to play it safe and my final prediction is that Andre will win the title.

Many believe that Laura Smulders will win the gold medal in the women’s Olympic BMX racing event, but I’m not so sure. The Dutch cycling team has been struggling in Tokyo up to this point and there are at least two other favorites.

2019 world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Alise Wiloughby certainly has the credentials to fight for the title. The American has been one of the most consistent athletes in the sport in the last five years.

And yet, I’m going to back Mariana Pajon for this race. The Colombian won the same event in 2012 and 2016, so she knows what it takes to finish first at the Olympics. Furthermore, Pajon has been excellent so far in 2021, so another title might be on the cards.

It’s hard to pick anyone else but Logan Martin in the first-ever Olympic BMX freestyle event for men. The Australian’s track record includes a bunch of wins in prestigious competitions such as the Urban Cycling World Championships, the World Urban Games, the X Games, and more.

Martin has been brilliant for years and it makes the most sense for him to add an Olympic gold medal to his collection.

And yet, the likes of Rimu Nakamura and Nick Bruce will try their best to stop him. I don’t think they will succeed, but the American’s ceiling is really high and he will be dangerous.

I still think that Logan Martin is just too good, though, so I’m backing the Australian to win the gold medal.

When an athlete is as dominant as Hannah Roberts, it’s hard to pick anyone else. The American has been winning everywhere in the past couple of years and the odds reflect her achievements.

The bookmakers and the fans expect Roberts to win the gold medal in Tokyo too and that’s the most logical outcome.Unless the favorite underperforms, the gold medal will be hers. No other contestant is on the same level right now and the only logical prediction is to back Roberts.

Sharing Olympics BMX predictions is one thing but betting is completely different. For example, I feel confident in Hannah Roberts in the women’s freestyle event. The odds of -225 are simply not high enough to bet on her, though.

Instead, I see two BMX betting picks that are much better. The prices for Mariana Pajon and Sylvain Andre are simply fantastic all things considered. I believe these are the best bets available right now.

If you want more help with your Olympic cycling betting, feel free to visit our dedicated guide. It features plenty of useful tips on how to prepare and find the best wagers.