Daniel Diaz (UCI America Tour), Edward Theuns (UCI Europe Tour) and Taylor Karl Gunman (UCI Oceania Tour) hold onto the lead of their respective rankings. Change in the UCI Africa Tour with Mekseb Debesay (Bike Aid) taking control and in the UCI Asia Tour with Hossein Askari.
UCI Africa Tour: Mekseb Debesay by a thread
The Eritrean Mekseb Debesay takes the lead of the UCI Africa Tour. Moving up from third place last month, the 23-year-old rider finished second in the Critérium International de Blida, in Algeria, propelling him into the lead of the circuit. Hichem Chaabane (ALG), winner of the Circuit International de Constantine, is his runner-up, while former leader Rafaa Chtioui (TUN) now lies in third place.
The Bike Aid rider has 175.67 points, narrowly ahead of Chaabane (174 points) and Rafaa Chtioui who follows just one point further back.
Thanks to Adbelbaset Hannachi and Azzedine Lagab, the Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers Algérie takes the lead in the teams ranking with 512 points. They are ahead of Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team (507 points) and MTB-Qhubeka (406.02 points).
Algeria continues to dominate the nations ranking with 1063 points. South Africa is in second position with 583 points, in front of Morocco (547 points).
UCI America Tour: Daniel Diaz still on top
Already in the lead of the last provisional ranking, Daniel Diaz, winner of the Tour de San Luis, continues to dominate the UCI America Tour with 158 points. Behind the Argentinean, Brazil’s William Chiarello moves into the rankings with 105 points won thanks to his second places in the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay and the Volta Ciclista Internacional do Rio Grande do Sul. Rodolfo Andres Torres Agudelo (COL) lies in third place with 84 points. One more event still remains to be raced this month: the Silver City’s Tour of the Gila from April 29 to May 3rd.
No change in the teams ranking. Funvic-Sao Jose Dos Campos conserves a comfortable lead with 284 points in front of EPM-UNE-Area Metropolitana (135 points) and Colombia (95 points).
In the lead since February, Colombia maintains its leading position in the nations ranking. With 440 points, it heads off Argentina (399 points) and Venezuela (257 points).
The American season continues. One of the highlights will be the Tour of Utah from August 3-9, which recently announced a magnificent participation with three UCI WorldTeams (BMC Racing Team, Team Cannondale-Garmin and Trek Factory Racing), four UCI Professional Continental Teams (Drapac Professional Cycling, Colombia, MTN-Qhubeka and United Healthcare Professional Cycling Team) and six UCI Continental Teams.
UCI Asia Tour: Iranian Hossein Askari in the lead
Asian Champion in the road race and time trial last February and first leader of the UCI Asia Tour, Hossein Askari (Pishgaman Giant Team) returns to the top of the ranking after his second place in the Tour de Taiwan. With 205 points, the Iranian overtakes former leader and winner of the Tour de Langkawi Youcef Reguigui (MTN-Qhubeka) who has 163 points. One of the best progressions in this ranking is that of Iranian Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour, who won the Tour de Taiwan and moves up from 23rd to 3rd in the rankings, with 136 points.
Thanks to Hossein Askari, the Pishgaman Giant Team moves into the lead of the teams ranking with 265 points, compared to 233 for the South-Africans MTN-Quubeka. Tabriz Petrochemical Team (188 points) moves up from 7th to 3rd place
Iran reinforces its position as leader of the nations ranking with 510 points. Japan is still second with 325 points, while Kuwait enters the ranking in third place with 142 points.
UCI Europe Tour: Edward Theuns still going strong!
The Belgian Edward Theuns (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), winner of l’Etoile de Bessèges in February, is still leader of the UCI Europe Tour. With 359 points, he is well ahead of Italian Manuel Belletti (Southeast), who has just won a stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. Meanwhile it is Nacer Bouhanni who lies in third place this month. The French rider with Cofidis Solutions Crédits moves up from 74th to 3rd place thanks in particular to his victories at the G.P. de Denain-Porte du Hainaut and of a stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe-Pays de la Loire.
With 649 points, Bretagne-Séché Environnement ousts Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise (533 points) from the top spot. Cofidis Solutions Crédits moves up one place to third, on 480 points.
The French riders move up the nations ranking and take the lead with 1236 points ahead of Belgium (1191.75 points) and Italy (996 points).
UCI Oceania Tour: Taylor Karl Gunman and Avanti Racing Team still in the lead
The New Zealander Taylor Karl Gunman (Avanti Racing Team), winner of the New Zealand Cycle Classic, conserves his lead in front of team mate Patrick Bevin, 4th in the Tour de Taiwan. With 152 points and 135 points respectively, they lead fellow New Zealander Joseph Cooper (100 points).
In the teams ranking, Avanti Racing Team (546 points) is still way ahead of their closest rivals Drapac Professional Cycling (155 points) and Team Budget Forklifts (142 points).
New Zealand still leads the nations ranking with 819 points to Australia’s 317 points.
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