Published April 30, 2001 01:00AM
By VeloNews Interactive
Lance Armstrong climbed a notch in the UCI rankings, which were updated and posted on Monday. The defending Tour de France champion’s second place finish in Saturday’s Amstel Gold World Cup put Armstrong at No. 2, up from his previous ranking of No. 3. Dutch Rabobank rider Erik Dekker, who squeaked by Armstrong to win Amstel Gold, was the big mover, climbing five spots to No. 3.
Fassa Bortolo’s Italian Francesco Casagrande kept his No. 1 tag, while two of his compatriots, Mario Cipollini and 1998 Tour de France winner Marco Pantani, wallow in 73rd and 179th respectively. Germany’s World Cup holder, 31-year-old Erik Zabel, who won the Milan-San Remo classic in late March, fell from second to eighth while his countryman Jan Ullrich held on to seventh spot. Top British hope, 24-year-old David Millar, who became famous after winning and sleeping in the yellow jersey at the outset of last season’s Tour de France, lies in 74th.
UCI rankings (at April 30)
1. Francesco Casagrande (I) 2488; 2. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2060; 3. Erik Dekker (Nl) 1907; 4. Davide Rebellin (I) 1884; 5. Roberto Heras (Sp) 1852; 6. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 1742; 7. Jan Ullrich (G) 1676; 8. Erik Zabel (G) 1674; 9. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) 1565; 10. Michele Bartoli (I) 1555; 11. Michael Boogerd (Nl) 1432; 12. Andrei Tchmil (B) 1356; 13. Paolo Bettini (I) 1224; 14. Gilberto Simoni (I) 1206; 15. Dario Frigo (I) 1164; 16. Stefano Garzelli (I) 1081; 17. Daniele Nardello (I) 1036; 18. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) 1028; 19. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) 1004; 20. Wladimir Belli (I) 975; 21. David Etxebarria (Sp) 930; 22. Rik Verbrugghe (B) 921; 23. Christophe Moreau (F) 920; 24. Patrice Halgand (F) 918; 25. Fernando Escartin (Sp) 890; 26. Alex Zulle (Swi) 835; 27. Alexandre Vinokurov (Kaz) 832; 28. Markus Zberg (Swi) 831; 29. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr) 818; 30. Nico Mattan (B) 813 Team standings 1. Rabobank (Nl) 3722; 2. Lotto (B) 2786; 3. Fassa Bortolo (I) 2548; 4. Mapei (Ita) 2272, 5. Domo (B) 2245; 6. Cofidis (F) 1963; 7. Telekom (G) 1844; 8. ONCE (Sp) 1655; 9. Liquigas (I) 1606; 10. U.S. Postal (USA) 1566; 11. Mercury (USA) 1425; 12. Euskaltel (Sp) 1415; 13. Tacconi (I) 1286; 14. Saeco (I) 1280; 15. CSC-World Online (Dk) 1212; 16. Lampre (I) 1100; 17. Ibanesto.com (Sp) 1051; 18. Credit Agricole (F) 806; 19. Festina (F) 768; 20. Kelme-Costa Blanca (Sp) 698; 21. Team Coast (G) 545; 22. Mercatone Uno (I)414