Albert, Compton extend UCI rankings leads

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World Champion Niels Albert and US champion Katie Compton pushed further ahead of the competition on the UCI's cyclo-cross rankings this week after enjoying clean sweeps of their respective World Cup series.

Albert has dominated the men's World Cup, taking commanding wins in Treviso and Plzen, but the Belgian had to work hard to get the better of Czech champion Zdenek Stybar in Sunday's round in Nommay, France.

The BKCP-Powerplus rider narrowly defeated Stybar in the sprint for the line, while Sven Nys battled back from a poor starting position to take his second World Cup podium of the year in third.

Albert now leads the rankings with 1,160 points over Stybar (945) and Nys (682), with Frenchman Francis Mourey claiming fourth with 588 points.

On the women's side, American Compton has earned the maximum number of UCI points, 760, in her 10 starts this season by going undefeated in every race so far.

The Planet Bike rider pulled further ahead in the rankings thanks to her second consecutive World Cup win after Treviso. Compton put on a commanding performance to best World Champion Marianne Vos in Nommay.

Dutch rider Daphny Van Den Brand continued strong and consistent performances to take fourth in Nommay behind teammate Sanne Van Passen, pushing herself into second place in the UCI rankings.

Van Den Brand trails Compton by 190 points with 570 total, while Van Passen is in third with 434.  Vos lies in fourth after a late start to the season with 410.