Belgian champion now almost certain to win UCI WorldTour
Victory in the GP Cycliste de Québec has finally meant that Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) takes over at the top of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour rankings once more. The Belgian champion was knocked off the top spot by Tour de France winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) following the Australian’s victory in late July, but has finally clawed his way back.
Victory in the Clásica San Sebastian and second place in the Eneco Tour in August saw Gilbert rise to within six points of Evans’ total. A surprising 57th in the GP Ouest-France though, meant that the 29-year-old had to wait another week to move up.
Gilbert now has a total of 648 points, 76 ahead of Evans, which is a lead that should see the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider win the season-long classification outright.
Having become the first Australian, Evans – who will be Gilbert’s teammate next season as the Belgian is to join BMC Racing – has already ended his season, and will score no more points; so too has third place Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard), who has 471 points. Fourth and fifth places are occupied by Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), on348 and 328 points respectively; both riders would need to win or podium in the ongoing Vuelta a España to have a chance of matching Gilbert’s total, but Scarponi has dropped out through lack of fitness and Rodriguez is currently languishing in 19th place.
The other podium finishers in Québec, Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky) also move up, with Gesink rising from nineteenth to thirteenth, and Uran leaping from 31st to twentieth.
With the GP Cycliste de Montréal coming on Sunday, and the Giro di Lombardia to come in mid-October, Gilbert looks likely to score even more points and should take the series by an even greater margin.
Belgium and Omega Pharma-Lotto rise under the impetus of Gilbert
With Gilbert winning once again it is no surprise that both his country and his team also rise in the rankings. Belgium rises from fourth to third in the national classification, overtaking Italy and closing in on the second place of Australia. Omega Pharma-Lotto meanwhile jumps from third to second and is now very close to the top spot occupied by Leopard Trek.
Gesink’s and Uran’s points also see their nations and teams rise. The Netherlands jumps from ninth to seventh; Colombia goes from nineteenth to sixteenth; Rabobank remains in eleventh place however, while Team Sky rises from fifth to fourth.
UCI WorldTour ranking September 9th, 2011
1. (2) Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 648
2. (1) Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 574
3. (3) Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-SunGard 471
4. (4) Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD 348
5. (5) Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 328
6. (6) Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 307
7. (7) Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 284
8. (8) Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky 260
9. (8) Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 252
10. (9) Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek 250
…
13. (19) Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 222
…
20. (31) Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Sky 169
National ranking
1. (1) Spain 1311pts
2. (2) Australia 1082
3. (4) Belgium 1078
4. (3) Italy 1041
5. (5) Germany 674
…
7. (9) Netherlands 561
…
16. (19) Colombia 175
Team ranking
1. (1) Leopard Trek (Lux) 949pts
2. (3) Omega Pharma-Lotto (Bel) 935
3. (2) BMC Racing Team (USA) 874
4. (5) Sky Procycling (GBr) 812
5. (4) HTC-Highroad (USA) 764
…
11. (11) Rabobank (Ned) 565