Van Avermaet and Van der Breggen crowned 2017 WorldTour champions

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) were officially crowned winners of the UCI WorldTour and Women's WorldTour, respectively, at the UCI Gala in China on Tuesday.

The ceremony, established last year, took place after the final stage of the Tour of Guangxi, the final event of the 2017 men's WorldTour calendar.

Van Avermaet, who won Paris-Roubaix, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this spring, already had top spot sewn up as early as September. Although he didn't ride Guangxi, he – unlike runner-up Chris Froome (Sky) and third-placed Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) – made the trip to China for the gala.

"I'm really proud to stand here and have this trophy in my hands," said the Belgian.

As well as the victories in the spring, Van Avermaet also finished runner-up at the Tour of Flanders and Strade Bianche, while later in the season he finished second at the GP de Québec, fourth overall at the BinckBank Tour, and recorded top 10's at the Clásica San Sebastián, Bretagne Classic and GP de Montréal.

He ended the year on 3582 points, with Froome – who won the Tour de France and Vuelta a España – second on 3452, and Dumoulin – who won the Giro d'Italia and BinckBank Tour – third on 2545. World champion Peter Sagan was fourth with 2544.

"It means a lot," said Van Avermaet. "It covers the whole year from the start to the end and it covers all races, so there are many contenders, like Froome, Dumoulin and Sagan. It's really hard to win this classification, and I'm really proud to have done it this year.

"I was really happy that they put some extra classics into the WorldTour because otherwise it would be almost impossible for me to win."

Van der Breggen was also in attendance to collect her trophy as winner of the second edition of the Women's WorldTour. The inaugural edition in 2016 was won by her teammate Megan Guarnier.

Like her fellow Olympic champion Van Avermaet, the Dutchwoman's success was rooted in the spring as she completed a stunning 'Ardennes triple', winning the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the space of a week. She went on to pair it with stage race success, winning both the Amgen Women's Race and the Giro Rosa and finishing runner-up at the Boels Rental Ladies Tour.

"I'm really proud of the season I had. To be able to win the races I won was great, and I'm really thankful I can do that and enjoy this sport," said Van der Breggen.

The Dutchwoman ended the year on 1016 points, 27 ahead of compatriot Annemiek van Vleueten, winner of La Course and the Boels Rentals Ladies Tour. Katarzyna Niewiadoma, overall victor at the Women's Tour, claimed 856 points to finish third, as she had behind Van der Breggen in all three Ardennes Classics.

"Sitting on the table with those two talented girls is great, and I hope women's cycling will develop more and more with these girls and other girls. I'm proud I'm able to win beautiful races and to win this prize means a lot to me," said Van der Breggen. "A lot of girls are getting stronger and stronger. That's only a good thing, it shows women's cycling is developing really fast at the moment, and that's great to see."

Teams

The WorldTour rankings also include team classifications, and it was Van der Breggen's Boels Dolmans team who walked off with the women's trophy. The Dutch squad, thanks primarily to the success of the Olympic Champion, ended up on 3368 points, with Sunweb on 3050 and Orica-Scott on 2705.

"I think we have really good riders, and in the beginning of the season we were the best team in the UCI ranking and in the end we are the same," said team director Bram Sevens. "That's a big compliment to my riders."

On the men's side, it was Team Sky who topped the rankings thanks to Froome's Tour-Vuelta double. Quick-Step Floors may have won the most WorldTour races this season with 30 to Sky's 18, but Froome's haul for winning the general classifications of two Grand Tours helped them shade it by 12806 points to 12652.

"We've been banging on the door for long time. This year we really looked at the last part of the season, and succeeded," said Team Sky DS Brett Lancaster.

"We're all in this together, even guys leaving the team next year went all the way to tine end. We're over the moon. We'll take this back to our camp next week and present it on Thursday night at our end of year party."

Final 2017 WorldTour rankings

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team3582pts
2Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky3452Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb2545Row 2 - Cell 3
4Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe2544Row 3 - Cell 3
5Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida2196Row 4 - Cell 3
6Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky2171Row 5 - Cell 3
7Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team2105Row 6 - Cell 3
8Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors2050Row 7 - Cell 3
9Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb2049Row 8 - Cell 3
10Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo1987Row 9 - Cell 3
11Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors1893Row 10 - Cell 3
12Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team1882Row 11 - Cell 3
13Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team1811Row 12 - Cell 3
14Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin1806Row 13 - Cell 3
15Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin1686Row 14 - Cell 3
16Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates1569Row 15 - Cell 3
17Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo1524Row 16 - Cell 3
18Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors1465Row 17 - Cell 3
19Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale1464Row 18 - Cell 3
20Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac1360Row 19 - Cell 3
21Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal1326Row 20 - Cell 3
22Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ1317Row 21 - Cell 3
23Ion Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida1276Row 22 - Cell 3
24Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale1275Row 23 - Cell 3
25Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky1266Row 24 - Cell 3
26Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team1214Row 25 - Cell 3
27Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team LottoNl-Jumbo1191Row 26 - Cell 3
28Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky1170Row 27 - Cell 3
29Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors1159Row 28 - Cell 3
30Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ1128Row 29 - Cell 3
31Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo1120Row 30 - Cell 3
32Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe1117Row 31 - Cell 3
33Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott1067Row 32 - Cell 3
34Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb1049Row 33 - Cell 3
35Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky1031Row 34 - Cell 3
36John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo990Row 35 - Cell 3
37Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb977Row 36 - Cell 3
38Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates929Row 37 - Cell 3
39Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Cannondale-Drapac917Row 38 - Cell 3
40Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale910Row 39 - Cell 3
41Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida887Row 40 - Cell 3
42Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale881Row 41 - Cell 3
43Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal853Row 42 - Cell 3
44Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-Scott830Row 43 - Cell 3
45Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team810Row 44 - Cell 3
46Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky797Row 45 - Cell 3
47André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal788Row 46 - Cell 3
48Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team776Row 47 - Cell 3
49Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott776Row 48 - Cell 3
50Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data775Row 49 - Cell 3
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Men's Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Team Sky12806pts
2Quick-Step Floors12652Row 1 - Cell 3
3BMC Racing Team10961Row 2 - Cell 3
4Team Sunweb8033Row 3 - Cell 3
5Trek-Segafredo7934Row 4 - Cell 3
6Movistar Team7399Row 5 - Cell 3
7Orica-Scott7190Row 6 - Cell 3
8Bora-Hansgrohe6516Row 7 - Cell 3
9AG2R La Mondiale6316Row 8 - Cell 3
10Cannondale-Drapac5748Row 9 - Cell 3
11Katusha-Alpecin5619Row 10 - Cell 3
12UAE Team Emirates5494Row 11 - Cell 3
13Lotto Soudal5466Row 12 - Cell 3
14Bahrain-Merida5277Row 13 - Cell 3
15Astana Pro Team5018Row 14 - Cell 3
16Team LottoNl-Jumbo4846Row 15 - Cell 3
17FDJ3616Row 16 - Cell 3
18Dimension Data2575Row 17 - Cell 3
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2017 UCI Women's WorldTour Individual Rankings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam1016pts
2Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Orica Scott Women989Row 1 - Cell 3
3Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling856Row 2 - Cell 3
4Coryn Rivera (USA) Team Sunweb Women803Row 3 - Cell 3
5Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5630Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Wiggle High5626Row 5 - Cell 3
7Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam623Row 6 - Cell 3
8Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb Women614Row 7 - Cell 3
9Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team518Row 8 - Cell 3
10Chloe Hosking (Aus) Alé Cipollini457Row 9 - Cell 3
11Marianne Vos (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling452Row 10 - Cell 3
12Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam429Row 11 - Cell 3
13Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon SRAM Racing427Row 12 - Cell 3
14Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam373Row 13 - Cell 3
15Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cylance Pro Cycling347Row 14 - Cell 3
16Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana Women's Team334Row 15 - Cell 3
17Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing321Row 16 - Cell 3
18Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam320Row 17 - Cell 3
19Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope320Row 18 - Cell 3
20Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team303Row 19 - Cell 3
21Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon SRAM Racing301Row 20 - Cell 3
22Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb Women271Row 21 - Cell 3
23Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb Women269Row 22 - Cell 3
24Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle High5265Row 23 - Cell 3
25Janneke Ensing (Ned) Alé Cipollini260Row 24 - Cell 3
26Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team251Row 25 - Cell 3
27Sarah Roy (Aus) Orica Scott Women235Row 26 - Cell 3
28Roxane Fournier (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope225Row 27 - Cell 3
29Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City Ljubljana221Row 28 - Cell 3
30Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini219Row 29 - Cell 3
31Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam214Row 30 - Cell 3
32Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica Scott Women202Row 31 - Cell 3
33Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica Scott Women194Row 32 - Cell 3
34Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam192Row 33 - Cell 3
35Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica Scott Women181Row 34 - Cell 3
36Sheyla Gutierrez (Spa) Cylance Pro Cycling180Row 35 - Cell 3
37Alice Barnes (GBr) Drops Cycling Team168Row 36 - Cell 3
38Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon SRAM Racing161Row 37 - Cell 3
39Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota159Row 38 - Cell 3
40Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank144Row 39 - Cell 3
41Katharine Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling143Row 40 - Cell 3
42Lisa Klein (Ger) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team134Row 41 - Cell 3
43Ruth Winder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling124Row 42 - Cell 3
44Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam116Row 43 - Cell 3
45Christina Siggaard (Den) Team Veloconcept Women113Row 44 - Cell 3
46Linda Villumsen (NZl) Team Virtu Cycling111Row 45 - Cell 3
47Danielle King (GBr) Cylance Pro Cycling108Row 46 - Cell 3
48Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle High5103Row 47 - Cell 3
49Krista Doebel-Hickok (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling102Row 48 - Cell 3
50Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 49 - Cell 2 Row 49 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Team Rankings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam3273pts
2Team Sunweb Women2153Row 1 - Cell 3
3Wiggle High51824Row 2 - Cell 3
4Orica Scott Women1821Row 3 - Cell 3
5Canyon SRAM Racing1505Row 4 - Cell 3
6WM3 Pro Cycling1414Row 5 - Cell 3
7Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team1228Row 6 - Cell 3
8Alé Cipollini994Row 7 - Cell 3
9Cylance Pro Cycling763Row 8 - Cell 3
10FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope662Row 9 - Cell 3
11BTC City Ljubljana512Row 10 - Cell 3
12Astana Women's Team398Row 11 - Cell 3
13Lensworld-Kuota300Row 12 - Cell 3
14Team Virtu Cycling278Row 13 - Cell 3
15UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling259Row 14 - Cell 3
16Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank255Row 15 - Cell 3
17Drops Cycling Team245Row 16 - Cell 3
18Hitec Products243Row 17 - Cell 3
19BePink Cogeas223Row 18 - Cell 3
20Lotto Soudal Ladies114Row 19 - Cell 3
21Servetto Giusta92Row 20 - Cell 3
22Lares-Waowdeals91Row 21 - Cell 3
23Aromitalia Vaiano58Row 22 - Cell 3
24Team WNT Pro Cycling52Row 23 - Cell 3
25Australia40Row 24 - Cell 3
26Lointek39Row 25 - Cell 3
27Rally Cycling Women38Row 26 - Cell 3
28Hagens Berman / Supermint28Row 27 - Cell 3
29Sho-Air Twenty2025Row 28 - Cell 3
30Valcar PBM24Row 29 - Cell 3
31China Chongming - Liv Pro Cycling24Row 30 - Cell 3
32Parkhotel Valkenburg-Destil Cycling Team22Row 31 - Cell 3
33Conceria Zabri-Fanini-Guerciotti14Row 32 - Cell 3
34Team Illuminate14Row 33 - Cell 3
35US National Team10Row 34 - Cell 3
36Norway4Row 35 - Cell 3

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Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is an NCTJ-trained journalist, and former deputy editor of Cyclingnews, who has seven years’ experience covering professional cycling. He has a modern languages degree from Durham University and has been able to put it to some use in what is a multi-lingual sport, with a particular focus on French and Spanish-speaking riders. Away from cycling, Patrick spends most of his time playing or watching other forms of sport - football, tennis, trail running, darts, to name a few, but he draws the line at rugby.