Rodriguez rockets to top of WorldTour ranking

Joaquin Rodriguez (l), Ryder Hesjedal (winner) and Thomas De Gendt (r),, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 21
Nigel Wynn
By Nigel Wynn
published

Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) has leapt up to the top of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) WorldTour ranking after his second place at the Giro d'Italia.

Prior to the Giro, Rodriguez was in sixth place in the season-long ranking behind leader Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) after winning Fleche Wallonne, finishing second in the Tour of the Basque Country and sixth at Tirreno-Adriatico. Boonen enjoyed a dominant classics campaign, winning Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke.

Giro winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) jumped up to eighth in the table. The Canadian was in 68th spot before his Giro victory.

Mark Cavendish (Sky) moved up to 38th in the table after his trio of Giro d'Italia stage wins. Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky) also moved up, from 82nd to 67th due to points collected from placing second in both the Giro stage one and stage 21 time trials.

Bradley Wiggins is Britain's highest-placed rider in the table in sixth after winning Paris-Nice and the Tour de Romandie earlier this season.

The next counting event will be the Criterium du Dauphine, starting on Sunday June 3. Wiggins is aiming to defend his title from the 2011 edition of the Dauphine, which could see him move up the WorldTour ranking significantly.

Spain continues to lead the WorldTour ranking-by-nation, with Great Britain moving up from eighth to sixth. Rodriguez's Katusha team are the top-ranked squad, ahead of Liquigas-Cannondale in second and Sky in third.

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.

Belgian Philippe Gilbert topped last year's WorldTour ranking with 718 points. Bradley Wiggins finished in eighth place with 289 points.

UCI WorldTour ranking (May 27 - after Giro d'Italia)

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 404 points

2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 366 points

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 272 points

4. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 252 points

5. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale 229 points

Other

6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky 224 points

38. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky 66 points

67 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky 22 points 

WorldTour ranking by team

1. Katusha 708 points

2. Liquigas-Cannondale 633 points

3. Sky 597 points

WorldTour ranking by nation

1. Spain 1063 points

2. Italy 946 points

3. Belgium 740 points

Related links

Wiggins back to defend Criterium du Dauphine title

UCI WorldTour calendar 2012

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nigel Wynn
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. 

Latest