Season long classification looks to be between top two with two-thirds of the season done
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) still leads the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour ranking as the season moves into its final phase. The Australian Tour winner is beginning to come under pressure from Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) though, after his Clásica San Sebastian victory has lifted the Belgian champion to within 92 points. Gilbert leapfrogs Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) into second place and, with the Giro d’Italia winner rarely featuring in late-season results, the series could well have come down to a battle between Evans and Gilbert.
With victory in the WorldTour the stated aim for the rest of Gilbert’s season, and the Belgian champion seemingly unbeatable in one-day races, he looks odds on to take the title. Possibly the only thing to stop the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider winning would be a victory in the Vuelta a España from one of those currently high in the rankings.
The only other movement inside the top ten is 2010 WorldTour champion Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) switching places with Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) thanks to Rodriguez’ fourth place behind Gilbert on Saturday. With Sanchez set to skip the Vuelta after winning a mountain stage and the mountains jersey at the Tour de France, Rodrihuez could be the only man capable of stopping Gilbert; although fourth placed Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) has resumed competition this week, and is currently riding the Tour of Poland.
Little change in the national and team rankings
The top five classification in both the national and team competitions remain static with just one race counting since the last ranking was released. The points picked up by Rodriguez – and second place finisher Carlos Barredo (Rabobank) – strengthen Spain’s position at the top, while Gilbert’s win – and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) in third place – mean that Belgium pulls away from Germany and closes in on Australia in third place.
Fränk Schleck’s seventh place in the Clásica reinforces Leopard Trek’s lead in the team competition, although Van Avermaet’s points mean that BMC Racing has closed the gap a little. With HTC-Highroad in third, and Lampre-ISD in fifth, both failing to score in San Sebastian Gilbert’s Omega Pharma-Lotto team is closing in on third place.
UCI WorldTour ranking August 1st, 2011
1. (1) Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 574
2. (3) Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 482
3. (2) Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-SunGard 471
4. (4) Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD 348
5. (6) Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 328
6. (5) Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 307
7. (7) Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 284
8. (8) Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 252
9. (9) Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek 250
10. (10) Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 230
National ranking
1. (1) Spain 1306pts
2. (2) Italy 1041
3. (3) Australia 1018
4. (4) Belgium 912
5. (5) Germany 574
Team ranking
1. (1) Leopard Trek (Lux) 949pts
2. (2) BMC Racing Team (USA) 844
3. (3) HTC-Highroad (USA) 764
4. (4) Omega Pharma-Lotto (Bel) 747
5. (5) Lampre-ISD (Ita) 644