The team classification is devised by taking the top five riders in each team and Movistar were the most consistent squad in 2013 to top last year’s rankings.

And, despite the Spanish team still hunting for their first WorldTour victory, they are sat second overall so far this term – helped in no small part by Nairo Quintana’s strong start to the year.

Though Quintana and Alejandro Valverde have enjoyed success outside of the WorldTour, Movistar’s points have been accrued courtesy of second and fifth for Quintana at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta a Catalunya respectively, while Jose Joaquin Rojas’ habit of being a perennial contender saw him add 68 to the tally at Paris-Nice.

Ag2r-La Mondiale currently sit top of the pile, though, with Carlos Betancur’s Paris-Nice success backed up by strong overall performances by Romain Bardet, Domenico Pozzovivo and Jean-Christophe Peraud.

Tinkoff-Saxo, despite Contador’s individual triumphs, have only had Roman Kreuziger scoring points otherwise, while Team Sky – pipped at the death in the rankings last year – have been hampered by the withdrawals of Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte when well-placed at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico respectively.

Before Thomas crashed on stage seven he was second overall, while Porte was fourth before illness took hold – coincidentally both on the same day. Had just one of them been able to hold on to their positions, Sky would be leading the way instead.

UCI WorldTour 2014: full team rankings

1) Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA) – 309 points
2) Movistar (ESP) – 271
3) Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS) – 269
4) Katusha (RUS) – 264
5) Team Sky (GBR) – 257
6) Omega Pharma-Quickstep (BEL) – 221
7) Lampre-Merida (ITA) – 195
8) BMC Racing (USA) – 187
9) Trek Factory Racing (USA) – 179
10) Orica-GreenEDGE (AUS) – 156
11) FDJ.fr (FRA) – 151
12) Cannondale (ITA) – 148
13) Belkin Pro Cycling (NED) – 127
14) Giant-Shimano (NED) – 127
15) Garmin-Sharp (USA) – 110
16) Astana (KAZ) – 84
17) Lotto-Belisol (BEL) – 63
18) Team Europcar (FRA) – 46