Although he’s missed the Vuelta a España, Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert continues to lead the IG Markets Pro Cycling Index ahead of triple Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank SunGard) and current Tour champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team). Gilbert has a massive lead, clocking up 7688 points as compared to Contador’s 4292 and Evans’ 4164.
All three riders have opted not to compete in the Vuelta. The fourth and fifth-placed riders Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) did start the race and have boosted their totals there.
The IG Markets Pro Cycling Index was set up this year and is intended to provide a ranking system more like the old UCI world rankings, which have now been replaced by the WorldTour standings.
These rate only the narrow band of WorldTour races, thus limiting the number of races which count and also providing a somewhat-distorted view in that only those with WorldTour teams are listed.
As an example, Thomas Voeckler’s strong Tour de France earned neither him nor his Europcar team any WorldTour points as the squad didn’t get a licence.
The Frenchman is however twelfth in the IG Markets Index, which counts points from 100 races, gives higher weighting to victories and also includes some subjective elements.
Unsurprisingly, new Vuelta leader Juan Jose Cobo is a big mover. His stage win on l’Angliru and his leadership of the race see him move up 55 places, although his relatively quiet season means he is 176th overall. If he manages to win the race, he’ll make serious gains.
The previous race leader Bradley Wiggins moved up a couple of places to 23rd. His Sky Procycling team-mate Chris Froome also led the race and is now second overall; he’s 180th and if he can remain in the top three or grab the red jersey beforel Madrid, will race up the standings. His contract value has shot up in the Vuelta and he’s on the wish list of multiple teams.
Other movers in the Vuelta are Tour of Poland winner Peter Sagan (who moves up two places to 17th), Rein Taaramae (up twenty-two places to 77th), and the Dutchmen Wout Poels (also up twenty-two places to 51st) and Bauke Mollema (up four places to 39th).
Edvald Boasson Hagen was voted rider of the month for August, earning points towards his own total through that subjective element of the Index.
The next IG Markets Pro Cycling Index update will come after the end of Vuelta.
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IG Markets Pro Cycling Index for September 6th:
1, GILBERT Philippe (BEL) OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO, 7688
2, CONTADOR Alberto (ESP) SAXO BANK - SUNGARD, 4292
3, EVANS Cadel (AUS) BMC RACING TEAM, 4164
4, RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin (ESP) KATUSHA Team, 3263
5, CANCELLARA Fabian (SUI) LEOPARD - TREK, 3148
6, SCARPONI Michele (ITA) LAMPRE - ISD, 2928
7, CAVENDISH Mark (GBR) HTC - HIGHROAD, 2866
8, SCHLECK Fränk (LUX) LEOPARD - TREK, 2746
9, NIBALI Vincenzo (ITA) LIQUIGAS - CANNONDALE, 2606
10, SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel (ESP) EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI, 2531
11, BOASSON HAGEN Edvald (NOR) SKY PROCYCLING, 2486
12, VOECKLER Thomas (FRA) TEAM EUROPCAR, 2395
13, MARTIN Tony (GER) HTC - HIGHROAD, 2375
14, HUSHOVD Thor (NOR) TEAM GARMIN - CERVÉLO, 2258
15, GESINK Robert (NED) RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM, 2159
16, LEIPHEIMER Levi (USA) TEAM RADIOSHACK, 2156
17, SAGAN Peter (SVK) LIQUIGAS - CANNONDALE, 2038
18, SCHLECK Andy (LUX) LEOPARD - TREK, 2032
19, FARRAR Tyler (USA) TEAM GARMIN - CERVÉLO, 1898
20, GOSS Matthew (AUS) HTC - HIGHROAD, 1883