UCI Rankings Rider update: Van Aert surges and Evenepoel takes another step forward - But Tadej Pogacar remains firmly in command
Cycling
The week after the Tour de France is usually one of the quietest on the UCI WorldTour calendar, with many of the peloton’s big names taking a breather after the French Grand Tour. Even so, the few races held still triggered notable shifts in the UCI Ranking updated on Tuesday, August 4th.
The Danmark Rundt was the week’s main event. Wout van Aert again showcased his huge competitive edge after the Tour de France, winning three stages and taking the overall classification. The haul helps him claw back ground in the world standings, climbing five places from 18th to 13th on 2,824.57 points.
The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider also capitalised on the absence of Mads Pedersen, who skipped the Danish race, to close in on the Lidl-Trek leader. The Dane drops two spots to 11th, although he remains one of the season’s top points scorers.
The sharp end of the UCI Ranking shows barely any changes. Tadej Pogacar remains the unchallenged leader on 11,321.75 points, holding a commanding advantage over the rest of the peloton. The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider continues to dominate after a historic season across Grand Tours and Classics.
Limited movement in the top 10
Behind, Remco Evenepoel consolidates second place after a flawless week winning the Klasikoa. Victory at the Clásica San Sebastián, one of his favourite hunting grounds, keeps him as Pogacar’s closest rival on 7,356.61 points. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider keeps extending the gap to those chasing him.
Jonas Vingegaard completes the podium in third with 6,866.39 points. The Dane from Visma holds a prime position despite his withdrawal from the recent Tour de France.
Fourth remains Isaac del Toro. The Mexican from UAE Team Emirates XRG continues to confirm his status as one of the sport’s major revelations, totalling 6,528.46 points. Ahead of him sit only three riders who have defined the current era.
Paul Seixas closes the top five and keeps surprising at just 20. The Frenchman from Decathlon CMA CGM Team is on 4,800.71 points and retains a solid cushion over sixth-placed Tom Pidcock.
Van der Poel and Lenny Martínez headline the other big moves
Beyond Van Aert’s leap, the key shifts inside the top 10 come from Mathieu van der Poel and Lenny Martínez, aided by Pedersen’s slide.
The Alpecin-Premier Tech leader climbs two places to ninth with 3,140.62 points, moving past Mads. His standout Classics campaign and season-long consistency keep him anchored among the world’s best.
Lenny Martínez also rises two spots, up to 10th with 3,087.38 points. The young Frenchman at Bahrain Victorious keeps stepping forward and cements his status as one of the peloton’s marquee prospects.
Another standout this week was Natnael Tesfatsion, winner of the Circuito de Getxo and Movistar Team’s most prominent rider in 2026. The Eritrean confirmed his fine form again, although the win was not enough to crack the top 40 of the UCI Ranking.
Markel Beloki also impressed, winning the Tour de l'Ain, though his victory in France did not trigger major changes in the overall standings.
Richard Carapaz, a quality rider
Carapaz climbs seven places
Outside the top 15, the most significant move belongs to Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian jumps seven spots to 19th thanks to his runner-up finish at the Clásica San Sebastián, on 2,519.12 points. The EF Education-EasyPost rider regains heft among the elite after a season in which he has recovered prominence.
Conversely, some riders who did not race or failed to score slipped back, such as Juan Ayuso, who drops four places to 25th.
The UCI Ranking therefore offers a picture much like previous weeks: Pogacar rules with authority, Evenepoel cements himself as his chief statistical rival, and the young core of Del Toro, Seixas, and Martínez continues to gain traction.
Read also
UCI Ranking updated on August 4th
| Position | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Tadej Pogacar | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 11,321.75 |
| 2 | Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 7,356.61 |
| 3 | Jonas Vingegaard | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 6,866.39 |
| 4 | Isaac del Toro | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 6,528.46 |
| 5 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 4,800.71 |
| 6 | Tom Pidcock | Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | 4,535.88 |
| 7 | Jasper Philipsen | Alpecin-Premier Tech | 4,136.62 |
| 8 | Mattias Skjelmose | Lidl-Trek | 3,243.82 |
| 9 | Mathieu van der Poel | Alpecin-Premier Tech | 3,140.62 |
| 10 | Lenny Martínez | Bahrain Victorious | 3,087.38 |
| 11 | Mads Pedersen | Lidl-Trek | 2,939.13 |
| 12 | Mauro Schmid | Team Jayco AlUla | 2,879.75 |
| 13 | Wout van Aert | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 2,824.57 |
| 14 | Arnaud De Lie | Lotto Intermarché | 2,788 |
| 15 | Felix Gall | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 2,707 |
| 16 | Christian Scaroni | XDS Astana Team | 2,684 |
| 17 | Jai Hindley | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 2,667.75 |
| 18 | Paul Magnier | Soudal Quick-Step | 2,599 |
| 19 | Richard Carapaz | EF Education-EasyPost | 2,519.12 |
| 20 | Tobias Lund Andresen | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 2,389 |
| 21 | Romain Grégoire | Groupama-FDJ United | 2,322 |
| 22 | Giulio Pellizzari | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 2,305 |
| 23 | Tobias Halland Johannessen | Uno-X Mobility | 2,248.25 |
| 24 | Jay Vine | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 2,218.50 |
| 25 | Juan Ayuso | Lidl-Trek | 2,208.03 |
| 26 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 2,046.21 |
| 27 | Brandon McNulty | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 2,015.89 |
| 28 | Giulio Ciccone | Lidl-Trek | 2,004.88 |
| 29 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 1,993.25 |
| 30 | Christophe Laporte | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 1,902 |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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