Points classification in the Tour de France

The points classification (French: classement par points) is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, which started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition. The leader is indicated by a green jersey (French: maillot vert), which has become a metonym for the points classification competition.

Green jersey
The 2016 green jersey, worn by Peter Sagan
SportRoad bicycle racing
CompetitionTour de France
Given forBest sprinter
Local nameMaillot vert  (French)
History
First award1953
Editions68 (as of 2020)
First winner Fritz Schär (SUI)
Most wins Peter Sagan (SVK)
7 wins
Most recent Sam Bennett (IRL)

The system has inspired many other cycling races; the other two Grand Tours have also installed points classifications: the Vuelta a España since 1955, also using a green jersey, and the Giro d'Italia since 1966.

History

After scandals in the 1904 Tour de France, the rules of the 1905 Tour de France were changed: the winner was no longer determined by the time system, but with the points system. The cyclists received points, equal to their ranking in the stage, and the cyclist with the fewest points was the leader of the race. After the 1912 Tour de France, the system was changed back to the time system that is still in use.

In the 1953 Tour de France, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Tour de France, the points system was reintroduced, but this time as an additional classification. Because the leader in the general classification wears a yellow jersey, the leader in the points classification also received a special jersey, a green jersey. The color green was chosen because the sponsor was a lawn mower producer, much as the yellow jersey was chosen to mirror the colour of the sponsoring newspaper from which it arose.

In the first years, the cyclist only received penalty points for not finishing with a high place, so the cyclist with the fewest points was awarded the green jersey. From 1959 on, the system was changed so the cyclists were awarded points for high place finishes (with first place getting the most points, and lower placings getting successively fewer points), so the cyclist with the most points was awarded the green jersey.

1968 is the only year the jersey was not green: for that edition of the race, the jersey was red to match a new sponsor.[1][2]

Whereas the yellow jersey is awarded for the lowest cumulative time in the race, the green jersey reflects points gained for high placings on each stage and intermediate "hot spots", especially during the flat stages of the Tour. The intermediate sprints were formerly for the intermediate sprints classification, with the points for the points classification a 'side-effect'; however, the intermediate sprints classification was later scrapped, but the intermediate sprints remained part of the points classification.

The points classification is widely thought of as the "sprinter's competition", since the most points are scored in flat stages, in which the riders generally remain together in one large peloton, leaving the best sprinters at the end to fight for the stage win.[3] However, to win the competition a rider will need a reasonable level of all-round skills as well as strong sprinting, since he will need to finish within the time limit on mountain stages to remain in contention, and ideally will be able to contest intermediate sprints during mountain stages as well. For example, Mario Cipollini was one of the best pure sprinters of his era but was never in contention for the points classification because he was unwilling to make it through the mountain stages and finish the race (however, he did finish the Giro d'Italia and won its points classification several times).

On four occasions, the winner of the points classification was also the winner of the general classification: three times by Eddy Merckx, and once by Bernard Hinault. In 1969, Eddy Merckx won the general classification, the points classification and the mountains classification (the polka dot jersey was born in 1975), a unique performance in the Tour de France, but as he was leading the race, he cannot conceivably wear all jerseys, so while he wore the yellow jersey, the green-jersey is worn by the person who is second in the points classification standings.

Peter Sagan set the record for the most stages in the lead of a Tour de France classification, wearing the green-jersey for 100 days through stage 18 of the 2018 Tour de France.

Two winners of the points classification, Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett both hail from the town of Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland, a town with a population of only 5,771 residents.

Points system

Current

As of 2019, the points classification is calculated by adding up the points collected in the stage and subtracting penalty points. Points are awarded for the first cyclists to cross the finish-line or the intermediate sprint line,[3] and for the cyclists with the fastest times in the prologue or individual time trials, under the following scheme:[4]

Current points classification
Type1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th
"flat" stage finish50302018161412108765432
"hilly finish/medium mountain" stage finish30252219171513119765432
"high mountain" stage finish201715131110987654321
individual time trial201715131110987654321
intermediate sprint201715131110987654321

Riders can lose points for various infractions to the rules, which means some riders finish the Tour with a negative points tally.[5]

Before the start of the Tour de France, the organization declares which stages are considered "flat", "medium mountain" or "high mountain". Flat stages typically have few or no categorized climbs (several 4th category and an occasional 3rd category), medium mountain stages have numerous climbs, typically 2nd and 3rd category, and high mountain stages have numerous large climbs, often 1st category or hors categorie.

When the order in which cyclists crossed the line cannot be determined or when cyclists score exactly the same time in the prologue/individual time trial, the cyclists divide the points (rounded up to the nearest 1/2 point). A cyclist that does not finish a stage is removed from the points classification. After every stage, the leader in the points classification is given a green jersey. In the event of a tie in the ranking, the cyclist with the most stage victories is the leader. If that is also a tie, the number of intermediate sprint victories indicates the leader. If that is also a tie, the general classification determines the leader. At the end of the Tour de France, the cyclist leading the points classification is the winner of the green jersey.

Historical

The rules have varied over the years. When the system started in 1953, the ranks of each cyclist in a stage were added, and the cyclist with the lowest number of points won. Later, points were given to the first few cyclists in each stage. Even later, the point system started to differentiate for stage type, typically assigning more points to flat stages. Intermediate sprints were also given points.

In 2009, the system had evolved to the following, with either two or three intermediate sprints per stage:[6]

Points classification in 2009
Type1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st22nd23rd24th25th
"flat" stage finish35302624222019181716151413121110987654321
"medium mountain" stage finish2522201816151413121110987654321
"high mountain" stage finish201715131210987654321
prologue/individual time trial1512108654321
intermediate sprint642

Starting from the 2011 Tour de France, a system very similar to the current one was used:[7]

Points classification in 2011
Type1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th
"flat" stage finish45353026222018161412108642
"hilly finish/medium mountain" stage finish30252219171513119765432
"high mountain" stage finish201715131110987654321
individual time trial201715131110987654321
intermediate sprint201715131110987654321

Winners

Year Winner Points Second place Points Third place Points
1953 Fritz Schär (SUI)271 Fiorenzo Magni (ITA)307 Raphaël Géminiani (FRA)406
1954 Ferdinand Kübler (SUI)215.5 Stan Ockers (BEL)284.5 Fritz Schär (SUI)286.5
1955 Stan Ockers (BEL)322 Wout Wagtmans (NED)399 Miguel Poblet (ESP)409
1956 Stan Ockers (BEL)280 Fernand Picot (FRA)464 Gerrit Voorting (NED)465
1957 Jean Forestier (FRA)301 Wim van Est (NED)317 Adolf Christian (SUI)366
1958 Jean Graczyk (FRA)347 Joseph Planckaert (BEL)406 André Darrigade (FRA)553
1959 André Darrigade (FRA)613 Gérard Saint (FRA)524 Jacques Anquetil (FRA)503
1960 Jean Graczyk (FRA)74 Graziano Battistini (ITA)40 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)35
1961 André Darrigade (FRA)174 Jean Gainche (FRA)169 Guido Carlesi (ITA)148
1962 Rudi Altig (FRG)173 Emile Daems (BEL)144 Jean Graczyk (FRA)140
1963 Rik Van Looy (BEL)275 Jacques Anquetil (FRA)138 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)123
1964 Jan Janssen (NED)208 Edward Sels (BEL)199 Rudi Altig (FRG)165
1965 Jan Janssen (NED)144 Guido Reybrouck (BEL)130 Felice Gimondi (ITA)124
1966 Willy Planckaert (BEL)211 Gerben Karstens (NED)189 Edward Sels (BEL)178
1967 Jan Janssen (NED)154 Guido Reybrouck (BEL)119 Georges Vandenberghe (BEL)111
1968 Franco Bitossi (ITA)241 Walter Godefroot (BEL)219 Jan Janssen (NED)200
1969 Eddy Merckx (BEL)244 Jan Janssen (NED)149 Marinus Wagtmans (NED)136
1970 Walter Godefroot (BEL)212 Eddy Merckx (BEL)207 Marino Basso (ITA)161
1971 Eddy Merckx (BEL)202 Cyrille Guimard (FRA)186 Gerben Karstens (NED)107
1972 Eddy Merckx (BEL)196 Rik Van Linden (BEL)135 Joop Zoetemelk (NED)132
1973 Herman Van Springel (BEL)187 Joop Zoetemelk (NED)168 Luis Ocaña (ESP)145
1974 Patrick Sercu (BEL)283 Eddy Merckx (BEL)270 Barry Hoban (GBR)170
1975 Rik Van Linden (BEL)342 Eddy Merckx (BEL)240 Francesco Moser (ITA)199
1976 Freddy Maertens (BEL)293 Pierino Gavazzi (ITA)140 Jacques Esclassan (FRA)128
1977 Jacques Esclassan (FRA)236 Giacinto Santambrogio (ITA)140 Dietrich Thurau (GER)137
1978 Freddy Maertens (BEL)242 Jacques Esclassan (FRA)189 Bernard Hinault (FRA)123
1979 Bernard Hinault (FRA)253 Dietrich Thurau (GER)157 Joop Zoetemelk (NED)109
1980 Rudy Pevenage (BEL)194 Sean Kelly (IRL)153 Ludo Peeters (BEL)148
1981 Freddy Maertens (BEL)428 William Tackaert (BEL)222 Bernard Hinault (FRA)184
1982 Sean Kelly (IRL)429 Bernard Hinault (FRA)152 Phil Anderson (AUS)149
1983 Sean Kelly (IRL)360 Frits Pirard (NED)144 Laurent Fignon (FRA)126
1984 Frank Hoste (BEL)322 Sean Kelly (IRL)318 Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)247
1985 Sean Kelly (IRL)434 Greg LeMond (USA)332 Stephen Roche (IRL)279
1986 Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)277 Jozef Lieckens (BEL)232 Bernard Hinault (FRA)210
1987 Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED)263 Stephen Roche (IRL)247 Pedro Delgado (ESP)228
1988 Eddy Planckaert (BEL)278 Davis Phinney (USA)193 Sean Kelly (IRL)183
1989 Sean Kelly (IRL)277 Etienne De Wilde (BEL)194 Steven Rooks (NED)163
1990 Olaf Ludwig (GDR)256 Johan Museeuw (BEL)221 Erik Breukink (NED)118
1991 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (URS)316 Laurent Jalabert (FRA)263 Olaf Ludwig (GER)175
1992 Laurent Jalabert (FRA)293 Johan Museeuw (BEL)262 Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)202
1993 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB)298 Johan Museeuw (BEL)157 Maximillian Sciandri (ITA)153
1994 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB)322 Silvio Martinello (ITA)273 Ján Svorada (SVK)230
1995 Laurent Jalabert (FRA)333 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB)271 Miguel Indurain (ESP)180
1996 Erik Zabel (GER)335 Frederic Moncassin (FRA)284 Fabio Baldato (ITA)255
1997 Erik Zabel (GER)350 Frederic Moncassin (FRA)223 Mario Traversoni (ITA)198
1998 Erik Zabel (GER)327 Stuart O'Grady (AUS)230 Tom Steels (BEL)221
1999 Erik Zabel (GER)323 Stuart O'Grady (AUS)275 Christophe Capelle (FRA)196
2000 Erik Zabel (GER)321 Robbie McEwen (AUS)203 Romans Vainšteins (LAT)184
2001 Erik Zabel (GER)252 Stuart O'Grady (AUS)244 Damien Nazon (FRA)169
2002 Robbie McEwen (AUS)280 Erik Zabel (GER)261 Stuart O'Grady (AUS)208
2003 Baden Cooke (AUS)216 Robbie McEwen (AUS)214 Erik Zabel (GER)188
2004 Robbie McEwen (AUS)272 Thor Hushovd (NOR)247 Erik Zabel (GER)245
2005 Thor Hushovd (NOR)194 Stuart O'Grady (AUS)182 Robbie McEwen (AUS)178
2006 Robbie McEwen (AUS)288 Erik Zabel (GER)199 Thor Hushovd (NOR)195
2007 Tom Boonen (BEL)256 Robert Hunter (RSA)234 Erik Zabel (GER)232
2008 Óscar Freire (ESP)270 Thor Hushovd (NOR)220 Erik Zabel (GER)217
2009 Thor Hushovd (NOR)280 Mark Cavendish (GBR)270 Gerald Ciolek (GER)172
2010 Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)243 Mark Cavendish (GBR)232 Thor Hushovd (NOR)222
2011 Mark Cavendish (GBR)334 José Joaquín Rojas (ESP)272 Philippe Gilbert (BEL)236
2012 Peter Sagan (SVK)421 André Greipel (GER)280 Matthew Goss (AUS)260
2013 Peter Sagan (SVK)409 Mark Cavendish (GBR)312 André Greipel (GER)267
2014 Peter Sagan (SVK)431 Alexander Kristoff (NOR)282 Bryan Coquard (FRA)271
2015 Peter Sagan (SVK)432 André Greipel (GER)366 John Degenkolb (GER)298
2016 Peter Sagan (SVK)470 Marcel Kittel (GER)228 Michael Matthews (AUS)199
2017 Michael Matthews (AUS)370 André Greipel (GER)234 Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR)220
2018 Peter Sagan (SVK)477 Alexander Kristoff (NOR)246 Arnaud Démare (FRA)203
2019 Peter Sagan (SVK)316 Caleb Ewan (AUS)248 Elia Viviani (ITA)224
2020 Sam Bennett (IRL)380 Peter Sagan (SVK)284 Matteo Trentin (ITA)260

Repeat winners

Wins Name Years
7 Peter Sagan (SVK)2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
6 Erik Zabel (GER)1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
4 Sean Kelly (IRL)1982, 1983, 1985, 1989
3 Jan Janssen (NED)1964, 1965, 1967
 Eddy Merckx (BEL)1969, 1971, 1972
 Freddy Maertens (BEL)1976, 1978, 1981
 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB)1991, 1993, 1994
 Robbie McEwen (AUS)2002, 2004, 2006
2 Stan Ockers (BEL)1955, 1956
 Jean Graczyk (FRA)1958, 1960
 André Darrigade (FRA)1959, 1961
 Laurent Jalabert (FRA)1992, 1995
 Thor Hushovd (NOR)2005, 2009

By nationality

Wins Country Years
19 Belgium1955, 1956, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974,
1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988, 2007
9 France1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1977, 1979, 1992, 1995
8 Germany[n 1]1962, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
7 Slovakia2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
5 Australia2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2017
 Ireland1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 2020
4 Netherlands1964, 1965, 1967, 1987
2  Switzerland1953, 1954
 Uzbekistan[n 2]1993, 1994
 Norway2005, 2009
 Italy1968, 2010
1 Soviet Union[n 2]1991
 Spain2008
 United Kingdom2011
  1. Besides Erik Zabel's 6 consecutive wins for a united Germany from 1996 to 2001 (following the reunification of Germany in 1990), the 8 wins for Germany also include Rudi Altig's win for West Germany in 1962, and Olaf Ludwig's win for East Germany in 1990 (shortly before German reunification on October 3).
  2. Djamolidine Abdoujaparov won for the Soviet Union in 1991, and for Uzbekistan in 1993 and 1994 (after the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991).

References

  1. "Tour Xtra: Green Jersey". Cvccbike.com. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  2. McGann, Bill (2008). The Story of the Tour de France: 1965-2007, Volume 2. Dog Ear Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 978-1598586084.
  3. Christian, Sarah (2 July 2009). "Tour de France demystified - Evaluating success". RoadCycling.co.nz Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  4. "Sporting stakes / rules". Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  5. "Le Tour 101". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  6. "Regulations of the race" (PDF). ASO/letour.fr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-05. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  7. "Regulations of the race" (PDF). ASO/letour.fr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-06-29.

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