Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) is just six points adrift of leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) in the latest Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) WorldTour Ranking, published on Monday afternoon.
The ranking takes into account points gained by riders in the Eneco Tour, which finished on Sunday. Gilbert finished second overall behind winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) with Britain's David Millar in third.
Boasson Hagen moves up to 17th place in the ranking, just behind Britain's highest-placed rider Bradley Wiggins in 16th. Millar moves up to 37th in the table.
Evans tops the ranking after winning the Tour de France in July as well as winning Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie, plus coming second to Wiggins in the Criterium du Dauphine.
Gilbert has amassed points from winning Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Clasica San Sebastian this year.
Millar's points gained from the Eneco Tour has moved Great Britain up to sixth from seventh in the ranking-by-nation - just 12 points below Germany in fifth. Spain continues to top the nation table ahead of Italy.
Britain's ranking has guaranteed the nation eight riders for the road race World Championships in Copenhagen in September, boosting Mark Cavendish's chances of a win.
Leopard-Trek continue to sit atop the ranking-by-team ahead of BMC Racing. British-based Sky move up to seventh thanks to Boasson Hagen's Eneco win.
The UCI's WorldTour Ranking is compiled using a points system, with points awarded for one-day race, tour stage and stage race overall finishing positions for events in the UCI's WorldTour.
The amount of points awarded depends on the ranking of the event. For example, winning the Tour de France overall gives a rider twice as many points as winning the Eneco Tour overall.
The next counting events in the UCI World Tour will be the Vattenfall Cyclassics (August 21) and GP Plouay (August 28). The Vuelta a Espana starts on Satuday, August 20, but points are not added to the ranking until the race ends on September 11.
UCI WorldTour individual ranking: August 15
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing 574 points
2. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 568 points
3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard 471 points
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD 348 points
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 328 points
6. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 307 points
7. Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard-Trek 284 points
8. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard-Trek 252 points
9. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard-Trek 250 points
10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 230 points
Ranking by nation
1. Spain 1306 points
2. Italy 1041 points
3. Australia 1022 points
4. Belgium 998 points
5. Germany 588 points
Other
6. Great Britain 576 points
Ranking by team
1. Leopard-Trek 949 points
2. BMC Racing Team 874 points
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto 845 points
4. HTC-Highroad 764 points
5. Lampre-ISD 644 points
Other
7. Team Sky 622 points
Related links
Boasson Hagen wins Eneco final stage and overall
August 8: Britain up to seventh in UCI World Ranking
July 25: Evans tops latest UCI WorldTour Ranking
2011 WorldTour calendar
