Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) and Robert Gesink (Rabobank) have both moved into the top ten of the latest Union Cycliste International World Ranking thanks to their performances at the Canadian ProTour races over the weekend.
Dutchman Gesink has jumped up to fourth from eleventh in the ranking - a table based on results in counting events on the UCI's World Calendar. Gesink won the inaugural GP Montreal on Sunday and placed third in Friday's GP Quebec.
Canadian Hesjedal moves from 12th to sixth after placing fourth in the GP Quebec and third in the GP Montreal.
Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen is another rider to have leaped up the ranking, his second spot in the GP Quebec has launched him from 23rd to 13th place.
Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Astana) still tops the ranking, with Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) in second and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) in third. Rodriguez is currently second overall in the Vuelta a Espana and is likely to challenge Contador for the top spot in the ranking, particularly as Contador has now drawn his season to a close.
Britain's highest-placed rider is Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), who sits at 30th place after winning five stages of the 2010 Tour de France. Cavendish should accrue more points after his Vuelta stage wins are taken into account when the race ends on Sunday (September 19).
Spain still tops the ranking by nation, with Astana the top team.
The World 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 World Calendar.
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.
UCI World Ranking Individual (13 September 2010)
1. Alberto Contador (Esp) Astana 482
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha 428
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC 390
4. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 369
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne 363
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions 307
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 304
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 283
9. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 261
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank 258
...
33. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Columbia 122
Related links
August 23: Farrar moves up in UCI's World Ranking
