Contador has been banned retrospectively for two years from August 2010
By Graham Healy
The biggest news story in the cycling world this week was undoubtedly the banning of Alberto Contador for two years for his positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.
The ban meant his race results back to and including the 2010 Tour de France became void, bumping up the results of those riders who had finished behind him in key races with a high number of UCI ranking points on offer.
The most obvious impact was Andy Schleck becoming the winner of that year’s race, and Michele Scarponi being awarded the 2011 Giro crown.
There was also an impact on Irish duo Nicolas Roche and Daniel Martin once Contador had been removed from race results.
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Most significantly, Martin moved up one place from 9th in the final 2011 World Tour rankings to 8th. He had originally placed 3rd overall in the Tour of Catalonia which was won by Contador. But he has now been promoted to second, in addition to moving to 3rd place on one of the stages.
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It is the extra points he was awarded from this process that has bumped him one place up the world rankings, just above Bradley Wiggins.
Revised 2011 WorldTour Ranking (previous score in brackets if different)
1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 720pts (718)
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 586 (574)
3. (4) Joaquim Rordiguez (Spa) Katusha Team 447 (436)
4. (5) Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD 427 (357)
5. (6) Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 349
6. (11) Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 320 (272)
7. (7) Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 317 (307)
8. (9) Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Cervélo 297 (286)
9. (8) Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky 289
10. (10) Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 284
As for Roche, he originally placed 15th in the 2010 Tour de France, but now moves up to 14th. This resulted in an extra four points being allocated to Roche for that season. Significantly, Ag2r increased their points total for 2011 by an extra 42 points. Coming towards the end of last season, Roche’s team was desperate for UCI points, as their World Tour status was in jeopardy. Their position would have been considerably more comfortable at that time if they had those additional 42 points.
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