UCI Rankings Rider update: Van Aert surges and Evenepoel takes another step forward - But Tadej Pogacar remains firmly in command
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 12:45
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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- You're wrong, it's not too late. This is how it's done: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it, LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta and once again win the WC. Capish?PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- yeah I was thinking the same - fairly audacious headline.mij04-08-2026
- So we have a cycling equivalent to the Penisgate storm in a teacup at the Ski Jumping event of this year's Winter Olympics!Cooldude04-08-2026
- Tadej doesn't have to win the Vuelta with a lead of more than five minutes over the first runner-up. This means he can ride leisurely, or rather, let it be his preparation for the World Championships. In addition, Remco won San Sebastian just seven days after the Tour, the World Championships are 14 days after the Vuelta... So the chances are not even close to 50/50.MajorPayne04-08-2026
- With all the possibilities that are never discussed and would create endless discussion as to whether it would be real doping, I will NEVER lay my hand in the fire to claim ANY rider is clean (especially having experienced something unexpected myself with over the counter medication as an amateur runner whilst sick). People also seem to have very short memories about what has already happened and wasn’t detected (sometimes for decades) until a mistake or thoughtless act occurred or past material was reviewed. It’s a sad fact that almost all those who want to deny the possibility there is doping, do almost ZERO research on the subject but then claim they know the facts. I don’t believe he’s consciously doing anything but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. As for why he is so successful? He knows his forte and exploits it predictably. The sad thing is the others haven’t yet understood how to neutralise him but I won’t go into that unless someone else starts it off.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- That’s a lot of assumptions but the 3 in a row combination has also already been achieved, not sure that would be specifically desirable to Jonas but am sure Pogi would love to have been the first/only to get all 3 GTs, something Jonas would also maybe have aimed for had Pogi not existed. Legacy is often the result of doing the right thing at the right time and for that you have to be born right. Imagine if Bubka and Duplantis had been of the same generation?Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- Was yesterday a snooze fest for you? One of the most interesting results ever in ALL of cycling.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- As has already been suggested (does cutd read comments here to create new content?) Too late, too much strong competition to wear him out if they spread over the 3 tours which no doubt will happen eith each looking for a possible win plus probably tdf participation. Remco, Seixas, Ayuso, Jonas, Lipo plus whoever comes next and all the nearly theres, that’s a lot of quality to ward off over 5 months. It used to be just Jonas just on the Tour. Too lateMistermaumau04-08-2026
- Totally ridiculous anyway, so many of the best at that age fade into anonymity. Not dure the selection process is that deeply developed, probably out of fear of losing out to another team. Might be time for teams to rely more on growing talent internally like certain football clubs that have been successful at it for generations Barça, Ajax, etc.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- Where can you volunteer to work for the UCI? Quickly pleaseMistermaumau04-08-2026
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