Star turns from Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde saw the Spanish cycling outfit Movistar end the WorldTour season as the top ranked team for 2014.
The 2014 season was a personal triumph for Movistar’s 34-year-old team leader Valverde, who topped the UCI Pro Tour rankings for a third time after previous success in 2006 and 2008.
The team’s 24-year-old Colombian climber Quintana, set the tone for a great year when he won the Giro D’Italia in May.
In the country standings Spain were clear winners over Italy, whose Vicenzo Nibali of Astana won the the Tour de France.
Final team standings (after the season ending event the Tour of Beijing):
1. Movistar (ESP) 1440 points
2. BMC (USA) 1212
3. Tinkoff (RUS) 1186
4. Omega Pharma (BEL) 1016
5. Orica (AUS) 953
6. Katusha (RUS) 938
7. AG2R La Mondiale (FRA) 919
8. Giant (NED) 905
9. Sky (GBR) 890
10. Astana (KAZ) 823
11. Garmin( USA) 807
12. Belkin (NED) 795
13. Trek (USA) 759
14. Lampre (ITA) 706
15. Lotto (BEL) 590
16. FDJ.fr (FRA) 505
17. Cannondale (ITA) 456
18. Europcar (FRA) 271
Standings by country:
1. Spain 1834 points
2. Italy 1070
3. Belgium 1006
4. France 987
5. Netherlands 957
6. Australia 869
7. Colombia 814
8. Great Britain 721
9. Germany 640
10. Poland 565
Individual standings:
1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) 686 points
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) 620
3. Simon Gerrans (AUS) 478
4. Rui Costa (POR) 461
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) 392
6. Nairo Quintana (COL) 346
7. Chris Froome (GBR) 326
8. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) 321
9. Daniel Martin (IRL) 316
10. Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) 300
– Agence France-Presse