New additions to the ProTour make small changes to the classification ahead of Vuelta results
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has released its latest World Ranking. With the Vuelta a España still ongoing the two new Canadian ProTour races, the Grand Prix Québec and the Grand Prix Montréal, were the only races counting towards the classification. The winners of the two new races, Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Robert Gesink (Rabobank) move up the classification; from 86th to 34th in the case of Voeckler, and 11th to fourth in the case of Gesink.
The Dutchman has been scoring points towards the classification since his fifth place in Tirreno-Adriatico in March. He finished sixth in the Tour de France, which earned him 96 points; third in Québec and first in Montréal has earned him an extra 130 points though, lifting him above Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne).
The other big mover after the new races was local boy Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions). The Canadian was the most aggressive rider in both Québec and Montréal, but had to be satisfied with fourth and third, respectively. Hesjedal, like Gesink, scored well with his seventh place in the Tour and adds another 90 points after his weekend in front of home crowds.
The ranking continues to be led by Tour winner Alberto Contador (Astana), but this is likely to change after next week, when the points from the Vuelta will be added. Current second place Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) is also currently second in Spain; with Contador having finished his season early the Kartusha rider looks set, barring accident, to take first place in the season-long competition.
With third placed World champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Gesink not riding the Vuelta, and the Giro di Lombardia the only ranking race after the Spanish tour, the competition looks to be between the two Spaniards.
Small changes in team and national rankings
Gesink’s win sees Rabobank overtake Team Saxo Bank to move into second place, behind Team Astana, in the team rankings. Hesjedal’s performances lift Garmin-Transitions from seventh to fifth. Netherlands and Norway both rise slightly in the national rankings but, other than a slight points increase for leaders Spain, there is no real change at the top.
UCI World Ranking @ 13 September 2010
1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Team Astana 482pts
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 428
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 390
4. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 369
5. Luis Leo Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 363
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions 307
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto 304
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Astana 283
9. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 261
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 258
Team Ranking
1. Team Astana (Kaz) 980pts
2. Rabobank (Ned) 898
3. Team Saxo Bank (Den) 851
4. HTC-Columbia (USA) 765
5. Garmin-Transitions (USA) 758
Country Ranking
1. Spain 1666
2. Italy 856
3. Belgium 849
4. Australia 845
5. United States 708