As the season draws to a close, the UCI ranking reflects the difficulties of French cyclists this season.
The cycling season is not yet completely over. If the Tour of Lombardy was the last major meeting of the year and if the main leaders are now on vacation, some riders still have an appointment in Asia to compete in the Tour of Guangxi in China.
To this end, Pavel Sivakov, one of the most prominent French runners at the end of the season as evidenced by his 6e
place on the Tour of Lombardy, will be the leader of the UAE team and could therefore put an end, in the event of victory, to an incredible drought for French cycling since no French rider has won a World Tour stage race since Christophe Moreau in 2007.
A sad first in the 21st century
Currently 90e world rider, Pavel Sivakov would take the opportunity if necessary to continue his progression in the UCI Ranking, he who jumped 51 places thanks to his good Tour of Lombardy. However, Romain Bardet is already assured of ending the year as the best Frenchman in the UCI Ranking.
But 2024 will not remain a great vintage for French cycling since the leader of the DSM is only at 33e place of hierarchy. Never at 21e century, the highest ranked Frenchman was also far away. In his wake, Julian Alaphilippe is at 36e place, just ahead of Benoit Cosnefroy and Valentin Madouas, respectively 39e et
40e.
Another blue runner emerges in the Top 50: Christophe Laporte, who ranks 44e. David Gaudu and Axel Zingle are further away, respectively at 51e et 53e places, while Lenny Martinez, amazing at the start of the season, ranks 61e rang.
However, in the ranking by nations, France is still at the foot of the podium, behind Belgium, Slovenia and Spain. But the threat is becoming clearer behind since Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands are on the heels of the Blues.
