Spain's Alejandro Valverde and his Caisse d'Epargne team are the new leaders of the UCI World Rankings after success at the Dauphine Libere stage race in France.
Valverde beat Australia's Cadel Evans (Silence) by 16 seconds and compatriot Alberto Contador (Astana) was third at one minute and 18 seconds after a week of spectacular racing.
Evans was the early race leader after winning the opening time trial stage but then Valverde attacked on the climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux and gained enough time to take the leader's yellow jersey. Evans attacked on every climb in the final three days of the race but was unable to pull back the precious seconds needed to win.
Valverde now has a total of 295 points in the UCI World Ranking. Contador also moved up the rankings to second with 263 points, while former leader and Giro d'Italia winner Denis Menchov (Russia) is third with 218 points.
Cadel Evans moved up to fourth in the UCI World Ranking thanks to his strong performance and has 217 points. Fellow Australian and winner of the opening Tour Down Under race Allan Davis (Quick Step) is fifth with 205 points.
Caisse d’Epargne takes team’s ranking lead
Caisse d'Epargne leads the UCI team world ranking with a total of 678 points, 70 more than second placed Cervelo Test Team, while Quick Step is third with 560 points.
Valverde praised the strong overall performance of his Caisse d'Epargne team mates:
Yet again my team-mates did a fantastic job. They did everything so that could win this edition of the Dauphine Libere race,” he said.
“My attack on the Mont Ventoux climb was decisive in setting me up for victory but the most difficult moment was responding to the attacks by Cadel Evans. Fortunately we kept perfect control of the race right to the finish. Winning another important ProTour race after the Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya is a special result for me and the team.”
Spain overtakes Italy
Spain also leads the Nations standings in the UCI World Ranking, overtaking Italy in their close battle for the title of best cycling nation. Spain has a total of 1005 points, with Italy slipping to second with 847 points. Australia is third with 704 points and Belgium is fourth with 505 points.
The next UCI World Ranking will be issued on Monday after the Tour de Suisse ProTour race. The nine-day stage race ends on Sunday and is expected to produce further changes in cycling's official rankings.
Individual Top 10:
1. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro (ESP) CAISSE D'EPARGNE - 295
2. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto (ESP) ASTANA - 263
3. MENCHOV Denis (RUS) RABOBANK - 218
4. EVANS Cadel (AUS) SILENCE-LOTTO - 217
5. DAVIS Allan (AUS) QUICK STEP - 205
6. HAUSSLER Heinrich (GER) CERVELO TEST TEAM - 197
7. REBELLIN Davide (ITA) SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI-ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI - 194
8. DI LUCA Danilo (ITA) LPR BRAKES FARNESE VINI - 188
9. GILBERT Philippe (BEL) SILENCE-LOTTO - 187
10. GARZELLI Stefano (ITA) ACQUA & SAPONE - CAFFE MOKAMBO - 170
Teams Top 10:
1. CAISSE D'EPARGNE ESP - 678
2. CERVELO TEST TEAM SUI - 608
3. QUICK STEP BEL - 560
4. ASTANA KAZ - 542
5. TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD USA - 531
6. SILENCE-LOTTO BEL - 518
7. TEAM KATUSHA RUS - 500
8. LIQUIGAS ITA - 496
9. TEAM SAXO BANK DEN - 479
10. RABOBANK NED - 463