The International Cycling Union (UCI) has released the World Ranking for May 31st and World champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) has risen to within 18 points of long-time leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne). With this month’s Giro d’Italia the only counting race since the last time the rankings were published, those who performed well have risen in the standings.
Evans himself rises from fourth to second thanks to his stage win, many stage placings and overall fifth place in the Giro. Race winner Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) enters the rankings in seventh place, while second place David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne) enters at 15th place, third place Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo) rises from 63rd to 13th, and fourth place Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) rises from 24th to eighth.
Currently suspended from racing in Italy, rankings leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) was forced to miss the Giro, although it’s questionable as to whether he would have ridden it anyway. With no other contributing races his total remains static meaning that the others, particularly Evans, have been able to close the gap.
The end of the classics season also sees the gradual drop of the riders that specialise in those races. Cobble kings Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) hold their places in the top ten, although Cance drops from seventh to ninth, but the names around them specialise more in the week-long and Grand Tours. Despite his strong performance in the Tour of Belgium last week, it is not a counting event and so he slips to third with no further points.
Arroyo’s second place increases Caisse d’Epargne’s lead in the team rankings, but the Liquigas team leaps from tenth to second by virtue of Basso’s first and Nibali’s third places. Fair Giro’s for Katusha and Astana see them hold their places, but Evans’ performances see the BMC Racing Team continue to punch above its weight as it rises from seventh to fifth.
Spain keeps its lead in the national rankings, where the only big mover is Italy leaping from fourth to second; once again this is mostly down to the Giro podiums of Basso and Nibali.
The next event to count towards the ranking will be the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré between June 6th and 13th.
UCI World Ranking @ 31 May 2010
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 392pts
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing 374
3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto 294
4. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 268
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 222
6. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 216
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 206
8. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 203
9. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 200
10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Astana 185
Team Ranking
1. Caisse d’Epargne (Spa) 751pts
2. Liquigas-Doimo (Ita) 556
3. Team Katusha (Rus) 545
4. Team Astana (Kaz) 519
5. BMC Racing Team (SA) 469
Country Ranking
1. Spain 1175pts
2. Italy 800
3. Belgium 714
4. Australia 667
5. United States 333