Boonen continues to lead WorldTour rankings after final Spring Classic

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) continues to lead the UCI WorldTour rankings after Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) clinched an impressive solo triumph in the final Spring Classic of 2012, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but the gaps are beginning to close at the top of the table on the 31-year-old Belgian.

At Liège, Iglinskiy launched a late counter-attack behind lone breakaway rider Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) that proved far more profitable than the 31-year-old Kazakh had anticipated. Rather than ‘just’ claiming the second place result that he had thought was the best possible outcome, Iglinskiy caught and passed Nibali on the long ascent to the finish at Ans.

As a result, Kazakhstan now has its third Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory in the last seven years. It was also Astana’s second Classic win in a week after Enrico Gasparotto captured the Amstel Gold Race last Sunday - before finishing third at Liège behind Iglinskiy and Nibali.

Boonen did not compete in the Ardennes Classics and his points total remains unchanged at 366. Nibali, however, jumped from sixth to second with 272 points while Sammy Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), seventh at Liège, moved into third place with 252 points.

Nibali’s strong performance, coupled with Gasparotto’s continuing strong run of results, has at least partly enabled Italy to close the gap on Spain in the nations ranking. While Spain remains in the number one spot with 881 points, Italy has closed the gap and moved into second place at 765 points. Belgium, meanwhile, dropped a spot and holds third place at 674 points after earning a mere four points in the last major Spring Classic

As for the UCI WorldTour's teams ranking, Nibali’s strong performance has had a clear impact. Liquigas-Cannondale could not overtake Omega Pharma-Quick Step in the number one slot at 547 points, but with 80 extra points in the bag the Italian team has at least ousted Katusha from the second place in the rankings and trails the Belgian team by 33 points.

However, the biggest mover in the teams ranking is undoubtedly Astana, who with first and third at Liège, not to mention 14th for another Astana rider, Croatia's Robert Kiserlovski, has now made it into fourth place overall. The 152 points earned at Liège gives the team 408 points and moved them from eighth to fourth.

Now that Liège-Bastogne-Liège has brought down the curtain on the 2012 Spring Classics season, the WorldTour turns its attention to stage racing, starting with the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland, beginning today, April 24, and concluding on April 29.

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WorldTour - Individual rankings
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep366pts
2Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale272Row 1 - Cell 3
3Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi252Row 2 - Cell 3
4Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale229Row 3 - Cell 3
5Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team222Row 4 - Cell 3
6Simon Gerrans (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team210Row 5 - Cell 3
7Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team180Row 6 - Cell 3
8Michael Albasini (Swi) GreenEdge Cycling Team172Row 7 - Cell 3
9Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team167Row 8 - Cell 3
10Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team166Row 9 - Cell 3
11Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team150Row 10 - Cell 3
12Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Barracuda132Row 11 - Cell 3
13Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team131Row 12 - Cell 3
14Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling112Row 13 - Cell 3
15Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD106Row 14 - Cell 3
16Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team104Row 15 - Cell 3
17Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team100Row 16 - Cell 3
18Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan96Row 17 - Cell 3
19Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team92Row 18 - Cell 3
20Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quickstep90Row 19 - Cell 3
21Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan86Row 20 - Cell 3
22Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team78Row 21 - Cell 3
23Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team74Row 22 - Cell 3
24Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team72Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team72Row 24 - Cell 3
26Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack-Nissan72Row 25 - Cell 3
27Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD71Row 26 - Cell 3
28Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling70Row 27 - Cell 3
29Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale67Row 28 - Cell 3
30Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha Team66Row 29 - Cell 3
31Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling63Row 30 - Cell 3
32Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling61Row 31 - Cell 3
33Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team60Row 32 - Cell 3
34Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team60Row 33 - Cell 3
35Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling60Row 34 - Cell 3
36Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep52Row 35 - Cell 3
37Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team51Row 36 - Cell 3
38Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team51Row 37 - Cell 3
39Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling50Row 38 - Cell 3
40Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Procycling42Row 39 - Cell 3
41Jan Bakelants (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan40Row 40 - Cell 3
42Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team40Row 41 - Cell 3
43Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat40Row 42 - Cell 3
44Daniele Bennati (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan33Row 43 - Cell 3
45Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale32Row 44 - Cell 3
46Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda31Row 45 - Cell 3
47Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan30Row 46 - Cell 3
48Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team30Row 47 - Cell 3
49Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo Bank30Row 48 - Cell 3
50Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep24Row 49 - Cell 3
51Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team24Row 50 - Cell 3
52André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team22Row 51 - Cell 3
53Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team21Row 52 - Cell 3
54Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling20Row 53 - Cell 3
55Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar Team20Row 54 - Cell 3
56Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team16Row 55 - Cell 3
57Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep15Row 56 - Cell 3
58Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team14Row 57 - Cell 3
59Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat14Row 58 - Cell 3
60Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin - Barracuda12Row 59 - Cell 3
61Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team12Row 60 - Cell 3
62Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda11Row 61 - Cell 3
63Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat10Row 62 - Cell 3
64Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale10Row 63 - Cell 3
65Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda10Row 64 - Cell 3
66Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale10Row 65 - Cell 3
67Gianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team8Row 66 - Cell 3
68Allan Davis (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team8Row 67 - Cell 3
69Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team7Row 68 - Cell 3
70Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big Mat7Row 69 - Cell 3
71Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team7Row 70 - Cell 3
72Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - ISD6Row 71 - Cell 3
73Cameron Meyer (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team6Row 72 - Cell 3
74Daryl Impey (RSA) GreenEdge Cycling Team6Row 73 - Cell 3
75Gustav Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team6Row 74 - Cell 3
76Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team6Row 75 - Cell 3
77Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling6Row 76 - Cell 3
78Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD6Row 77 - Cell 3
79Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team5Row 78 - Cell 3
80Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team5Row 79 - Cell 3
81Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISD5Row 80 - Cell 3
82Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha Team4Row 81 - Cell 3
83Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team4Row 82 - Cell 3
84Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling Team4Row 83 - Cell 3
85Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Movistar Team4Row 84 - Cell 3
86Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan4Row 85 - Cell 3
87Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep4Row 86 - Cell 3
88Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep4Row 87 - Cell 3
89Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team4Row 88 - Cell 3
90Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale4Row 89 - Cell 3
91Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Barracuda3Row 90 - Cell 3
92Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep3Row 91 - Cell 3
93Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team2Row 92 - Cell 3
94Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling2Row 93 - Cell 3
95Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale2Row 94 - Cell 3
96Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha Team2Row 95 - Cell 3
97Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling2Row 96 - Cell 3
98Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin - Barracuda2Row 97 - Cell 3
99Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat1Row 98 - Cell 3
100Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team1Row 99 - Cell 3
101Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale1Row 100 - Cell 3
102Daniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale1Row 101 - Cell 3
103Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing Team1Row 102 - Cell 3
104Svein Tuft (Can) GreenEdge Cycling Team1Row 103 - Cell 3
105Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol Team1Row 104 - Cell 3
106Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC Racing Team1Row 105 - Cell 3
107Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale1Row 106 - Cell 3
108Manuel Belletti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale1Row 107 - Cell 3
109Thomas Rohregger (Aut) RadioShack-Nissan1Row 108 - Cell 3
110Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank1Row 109 - Cell 3
111Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team1Row 110 - Cell 3
112Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo Bank1Row 111 - Cell 3
113Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale1Row 112 - Cell 3
114Robbie McEwen (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team1Row 113 - Cell 3
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WorldTour - Nation rankings
1Spain881pts
2Italy765Row 1 - Cell 3
3Belgium674Row 2 - Cell 3
4Netherlands404Row 3 - Cell 3
5Australia315Row 4 - Cell 3
6Switzerland258Row 5 - Cell 3
7Slovakia229Row 6 - Cell 3
8United States153Row 7 - Cell 3
9Ireland132Row 8 - Cell 3
10France120Row 9 - Cell 3
11Great Britain118Row 10 - Cell 3
12Norway113Row 11 - Cell 3
13Kazakhstan100Row 12 - Cell 3
14Germany94Row 13 - Cell 3
15Czech Republic78Row 14 - Cell 3
16Slovenia77Row 15 - Cell 3
17Croatia74Row 16 - Cell 3
18Portugal72Row 17 - Cell 3
19Colombia65Row 18 - Cell 3
20Denmark60Row 19 - Cell 3
21Austria51Row 20 - Cell 3
22Canada12Row 21 - Cell 3
23Belarus8Row 22 - Cell 3
24Russia8Row 23 - Cell 3
25Poland8Row 24 - Cell 3
26South Africa6Row 25 - Cell 3
27Sweden6Row 26 - Cell 3
28Luxembourg1Row 27 - Cell 3
29New Zealand1Row 28 - Cell 3
30Argentina1Row 29 - Cell 3
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WorldTour - Team rankings
1Omega Pharma-Quickstep547pts
2Liquigas-Cannondale516Row 1 - Cell 3
3Katusha Team502Row 2 - Cell 3
4Astana Pro Team408Row 3 - Cell 3
5GreenEdge Cycling Team402Row 4 - Cell 3
6Sky Procycling366Row 5 - Cell 3
7BMC Racing Team350Row 6 - Cell 3
8RadioShack-Nissan327Row 7 - Cell 3
9Rabobank Cycling Team254Row 8 - Cell 3
10Euskaltel - Euskadi252Row 9 - Cell 3
11Lotto Belisol Team207Row 10 - Cell 3
12Movistar Team205Row 11 - Cell 3
13Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team202Row 12 - Cell 3
14Garmin - Barracuda196Row 13 - Cell 3
15Lampre - ISD194Row 14 - Cell 3
16AG2R La Mondiale112Row 15 - Cell 3
17FDJ-Big Mat72Row 16 - Cell 3
18Team Saxo Bank32Row 17 - Cell 3

 

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