This weekend was not only a successful one for Tinkoff with results on the road, including a maiden win as UCI World Champion for Peter Sagan and a second place overall at the Volta a Catalunya for Alberto Contador. The team also moved onto the top step of the podium in the UCI WorldTour rankings. Further to this, Peter and Alberto also sit first and third overall in the individual rankings, highlighting their consistency so far this season.

The UCI WorldTour rankings are based on results in the races ranked as WorldTour in the UCI calendar, arguably the biggest and best races on the international calendar. To lead the rankings, results are needed in depth rather than just through one leader in a selection of races – results that are a just reward for the hard work and dedication put in by the team in the build up to this season and over the opening months of the race calendar.

“Compared to last year we have definitely had a good start to the season, with two strong leaders in Peter and Alberto scoring well on two fronts,” explained Sport Director Steven De Jongh, returning from the week-long Catalunya race. “Of course the team’s strategy is to support these riders in their respective target races, but it is a nice demonstration that the teamwork is paying off.

“We had a really good winter, coming together first to build bonds and work on the base, before moving to more specific camps and separate altitude camps with Alberto and Peter, together with other guys. We also spent time working on some changes in the race programme and this has started to pay off. So it’s a real bonus to the results we’ve been achieving, and it shows the momentum we have as a team now.”

The team started to gather points right from the start of the season, with the first win going to young Jay McCarthy, claiming stage 2 of the Tour Down Under, before finishing fourth overall. Although not a WorldTour race, the results kept coming at the Ruta del Sol with Daniele Bennati and Oscar Gatto winning stages, as Rafal Majka and Roman Kreuziger finished third and fifth overall respectively.

Peter Sagan was consistently passing close to victory, with several top four finishes at Tirreno-Adriatico, eventually taking second overall. This provided the springboard for a strong start to his classics campaign with second place at E3 Harelbeke before a big win at Gent – Wevelgem.

Alberto Contador’s campaign has also been a consistent one, getting his arms in the air early on the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve before starting to score WorldTour points at Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya. Contador finished second overall in both, with second places on stages and strong showings throughout. Little separates the Tinkoff leader and his first big victory of 2016.

“It’s a well-earned reward for all the hard work that everyone has put in, not only the riders on and off the bike but also all of the staff behind the scenes that make the whole team work. There’s still a long way to go, but hopefully we can continue and still be ranked highly come the end of the season.”

Other strong results of note include young Erik Baška's win at the Handzame Classic, a fifth place overall for Jesper Hansen at the Tour de Langkawi, as well as strong domestique rides across the board. Next up on the WorldTour calendar for the team is this Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen and Vuelta al Pais Vasco.