New UCI rankings to impact cyclo-cross world' start positions

By Brecht Decaluwé

With only days before the Cyclo-Cross World Championships are held in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, this weekend, the UCI has announced its new rankings that will have a direct impact on starting positions.

Significantly, the new rankings also have an affect on the Americans expected to line up this weekend.

As imagined, Belgian Sven Nys (Rabobank) comfortably leads they way, ahead of fellow Belgian and number two Bart Wellens (Fidea) by almost 1000 points.

Current world champion Erwin Vervecken remains in third. Further down the list there's only one change in the top-10 of the UCI cyclo-cross rankings, as in-form Swiss rider Christian Heule has overtaken Klaas Vantornout at number seven.

Vantornout abandoned the World Cup race in Hoogerheide early on while Heule finished fifth in The Netherlands. Another man in form is Czech champion Petr Dlask who continued his move forward from 14th to 11th place.

Italian champion Enrico Franzoi took a little break after a heavy road and cyclo-cross season but he has now moved eight places forward to become twentieth, after good results in Zonnebeke and Hoogherheide.

US champion Ryan Trebon moved one spot forward and is the first US rider in at 21st place, while Jonathan Page took another big step forward - overtaking compatriot Timothy Johnson - and he's currently 32nd.

Rankings as of January 22, 2007

See full rankings for men and women here.