Nairo Quintana: world number one
Nairo Quintana is now world number one, having claimed 170 points for his Giro d’Italia victory and a further 38 for his performances throughout the three weeks. It was enough to propel the Colombian ahead of previous leader Alberto Contador, with 37 points separating the two.
Contador is expected to claw back those points at the Criterium du Dauphine and Tour de France however, while Tour Down Under and Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE), on 264, is not out of sight.
Chris Froome (Team Sky), second last year, has also moved up the rankings courtesy of his Tour de Romandie success and you would not bet against him adding to his 151 points at the Criterium du Dauphine and Tour de France.
The biggest loser, however, has been Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha). Well set after his Volta Ciclista a Catalunya victory, the Spaniard – who has finished the previous two seasons as world number one – finds himself a lowly 25th and in need of another Grand Tour opportunity if he wants to top the charts again in 2014.
UCI WorldTour 2014: individual rankings
1) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar – 345pts
2) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff-Saxo – 308
3) Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – 264
4) Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar – 262
5) Fabian Cancellara (SUI) – Trek Factory Racing – 260
6) Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) – Belkin Pro Cycling – 200
7) Niki Terpstra (NED) – Omega Pharma-Quickstep – 200
8) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – 196
9) Cadel Evans (AUS) – BMC Racing – 187
10) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Cannondale – 183
