Belgian champion Sven Nys resumed his normal spot at the top of the UCI rankings since the previous leader, Niels Albert, has been out with a ruptured spleen. Nys assumed the lead after his win in Hamme Zogge, and then padded his lead over Albert with his second place in the World Cup at Koksijde and third in the Superprestige race in Gieten.
Albert, who just resumed light training after spending several days in a hospital intensive care unit following his crash in Gavere, now trails Nys by 220 points. Bart Wellens is in third followed by his two Fidea teammates, Kevin Pauwels and Zdenek Stybar.
Erwin Vervecken shot up to ninth in the rankings after his sprint victory in the weekend's World Cup earned him 300 points.
US champion Tim Johnson took over from his Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld teammate Jeremy Powers as top American in 17th. Powers fell to 18th, one notch better than Ryan Trebon (Kona). Todd Wells (GT) and Jamey Driscoll both outpaced Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), who fell to 28th.
On the women's side, world champion Hanka Kupfernagel extended her lead over Daphny Van den Brand with a second place in Koksijde, while that race's winner Katie Compton shot up to fifth in the rankings thanks to the 300 points. Czech Pavla Havlikova sits in third with former world champ Maryline Salvetat in fourth. Canadian Wendy Simms slipped from fourth down to tenth by sitting out the World Cups.
