Rodriguez tops 2010 World Ranking

Joaquin Rodriguez takes overall lead, Vuelta a Espana 2010, stage 16

Spanish pro Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) tops the 2010 Union Cycliste Internationale World Ranking, the final edition of which was published on Monday taking into account results of the Tour of Lombardy.

Rodriguez amassed points in the ranking - based on results in counting events on the UCI's World Calendar - with a string of wins and podium places throughout the season. An overall win in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, along with stage wins at the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana propelled Rodriguez to the top of the table.

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Astana) finished in second place in the ranking. Controversially, Contador is currently banned from competing pending further investigation into a positive test for banned drug clenbuterol during the Tour. Contador topped the 2009 World Ranking.

Tour of Lombardy winner Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) jumped up to third from seventh thanks to his solo win in Saturday's season-ending Italian classic to complete the top three of the 2010 World Ranking.

Britain's highest-placed rider was Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), in 22nd place thanks to his stage wins in the Tour de France (five), Vuelta a Espana (three), Tour de Romandie (one) and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (one).

Spain finished as top nation with four riders in the top ten. Britain finished 16th nation.

Saxo Bank made a last-minute charge to usurp Astana at the top of the team ranking with British-based Team Sky finishing 15th in its first season.

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.

Next season the ProTour and Historic races have been combined to form a new World Tour, which will serve as the basis for the 2011 ranking.

Joaquin Rodriguez: Key 2010 results

Overall winner, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Winner, Tour de France stage 12

Winner, Vuelta a Espana stage 14

Winner, Vuelta a Pais Vasco stage 5

Second, La Fleche Wallonne

Fourth overall, Vuelta a Espana

Fourth overall, Vuelta a Pais Vasco

Fifth, Clasica San Sebastian

Seventh, Paris-Nice

Eighth overall, Tour de France

Ninth overall, Tour de Suisse

UCI World Ranking 2010: Final standings

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 551 points

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 482

3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 437

4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 403

5. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 390

6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 390

7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 369

8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions 307

9. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Transitions 306

10. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 301

Other

22. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Columbia 198

57. Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo 90

132. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky 18

144. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky 15

162. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Transitions 10

254. Steve Cummings (GB) Team Sky 1

275. Adam Blythe (GB) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1

Related links

Gibert solos to repeat Tour of Lombardy win

ProTour is dead, long live the World Tour

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