Team Sky back on top in WorldTour

Team Sky's successful Critérium du Dauphiné campaign sees them regain the top spot in the team ranking. Alejandro Valverde increases lead in rider ranking

Chris Froome wins Stage 8 and the overall 2015 Criterium du Dauphine

(Image credit: Watson)

Team Sky has regained top position in the Union Cycliste International WorldTour ranking after Chris Froome's victory in the Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday.

Etixx-QuickStep had occupied the top slot after the spring classics, but Froome's overall win and two stage victories in the eight-day French stage race has propelled the British team back to the head of the WorldTour. Katusha now sits in second, with Etixx in third.

>>> Froome: Things are looking good for the Tour de France

Froome himself moves up from 36th position to 13th in the individual rider WorldTour ranking, tying on points with fellow Brit and Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas in 12th place. Froome previously accrued points in the Tour de Romandie, where he ended the race third overall. Thomas is likely to gain more points in this week's Tour de Suisse, where he currently sits in second place overall.

Simon Yates on the podium in the Best Young Riders jersey following Stage 8 of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine

Simon Yates on the podium in the Best Young Riders jersey following Stage 8 of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine
(Image credit: Watson)

Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) also moves up after his fifth place at the Dauphiné, jumping from 28th to 21st. Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) enters the ranking for the first time this season after his opening Dauphiné stage win.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallonne winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) increased his lead in the rider ranking after finishing ninth overall in the Dauphiné. He has 350 points to second placed Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) with 307 points, with Richie Porte (Sky) in third with 304 points.

Spain retains its position as the top nation in the WorldTour country ranking, with Australia in second and Colombia in third. Great Britain moves up from seventh to fifth.

Peter Kennaugh wins stage one of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine

Peter Kennaugh wins stage one of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine
(Image credit: Watson)

WorldTour points are awarded for one-day race, tour stage and stage race overall finishing positions for counting events. 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.

Valverde topped the 2014 WorldTour ranking; top British rider was Froome in seventh.

The next counting event in the 2015 WorldTour is the Tour de Suisse, which finishes on Sunday, June 21. After that it is the Tour de France, from July 4-26.

Alejandro Valverde wins the 2015 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Alejandro Valverde wins the 2015 Liege-Bastogne-Liege
(Image credit: Watson)

UCI WorldTour rankings (as at June 14 after the Critérium du Dauphiné)

Rider ranking

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar 350 points

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 307 points

3. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky 304 points

4. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida 274 points

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 252 points

6. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 237 points

7. John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin 232 points

8. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana 212 points

9. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx-QuickStep 209 points

10. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx-QuickStep 195 points

12. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky 184 points

13. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky 184 points

21. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge 148 points

77. Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky 20 points

93. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge 10 points

114. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky 6 points

Team ranking

1. Sky 872 points

2. Katusha 866 points

3. Etixx-QuickStep 861 points

4. Movistar 784 points

5. Astana 553 points

Nation ranking

1. Spain 1138 points

2. Australia 660 points

3. Colombia 583 points

4. Italy 553 points

5. Great Britain 546 points

Video: Mark Cavendish on the Tour de France

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.