Erik Dekker of the Netherlands has moved into the top spot in the International Cycling Union's world rankings after winning the Tirreno-Adriatico race last week.
The International Cycling Union said Monday that Dekker's victory had allowed the defending World Cup champion to overtake German rider Erik Zabel at the top of the rankings.
Gilberto Simoni of Italy, who won the Tour of Italy last year, moved into third place. His countryman Paolo Bettini placed fourth in the Tirreno-Adriatico race and moved up three spots from seventh to fourth in the rankings. Three-time defending Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of the United States remains in fifth place.
The top-ten is rounded out by Jan Ullrich of Germany, Oscar Sevilla Ribera of Spain, Davide Rebellin of Italy, Francesco Casagrande of Italy, and Laurent Jalabert of France.