Mountains classification in the Tour de France

Polka dot jersey

The 2013 polka dot jersey, worn by Pierre Rolland
Award details
Sport	Road bicycle racing
Competition	Tour de France
Given for	Best climber
Local name	Maillot à pois rouges  (French)
History
First award	1933
Editions	76 (as of 2016)
First winner	Vicente Trueba (ESP)
Most wins	Richard Virenque (FRA) 7 times
Most recent	Rafał Majka (POL)

The mountains classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1933. It is given to rider that gains the most points for reaching a mountain summits first. The leader of the classification is named the King of the Mountains, and since 1975 wears the polka dot jersey (French: maillot à pois rouges), a white jersey with red polka dots.

History

The first Tour de France crossed no mountain passes, but several lesser cols. The first was the col des Echarmeaux (712 m (2,336 ft)), on the opening stage from Paris to Lyon, on what is now the old road from Autun to Lyon. The stage from Lyon to Marseille included the col de la République (1,161 m (3,809 ft)), also known as the col du Grand Bois, at the edge of St-Etienne. The first major climb—the Ballon d'Alsace (1,178 m (3,865 ft)) in the Vosges^[1] — was featured in the 1905 race.

True mountains were not included until the Pyrenees in 1910. In that year the race rode, or more walked, first the col d'Aubisque and then the nearby Tourmalet. Both climbs were mule tracks, a demanding challenge on heavy, ungeared bikes ridden by men with spare tires around their shoulders and their food, clothing and tools in bags hung from their handlebars. The assistant organiser, Victor Breyer, stood at the summit of the Aubisque with the colleague who had proposed including the Pyrenees, Alphonse Steinès.^[2] The tour organiser, Henri Desgrange was confident enough after the Pyrenees to include the Alps in 1911.^[3]

The highest climb in the race was the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond in the 1962 Tour de France, reaching 2802 m.^[4] The highest mountain finish in the Tour was at the Col du Galibier in the 2011 edition.^[5]

Since 1905, the organising newspaper l'Auto named one cyclist of the Tour de France the meilleur grimpeur (best climber).^[6] In 1933, Vicente Trueba was the winner of this classification. However, Trueba was a very poor descender, so he never gained anything from reaching the tops first. The Tour de France director, Henri Desgrange, decided that cyclists should receive a bonus for reaching the tops first. From 1934 on, the gap between the first and the second cyclist to reach the top was given as a time bonus to the one reaching the top first. These time bonuses were later removed, but the King of the Mountain recognition remained.^[7] Although the best climber was first recognised in 1933, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975. The colours were decided by the then sponsor, Chocolat Poulain, whose chocolate bars were covered in a polka dot wrapper.^[8] Currently the jersey is sponsored by Carrefour supermarkets, which has sponsored the jersey since 1993, initially under the Champion brand, it switched to the main Carrefour brand for the 2009 edition of the Tour. The Tour's jersey colours have also been adopted by other cycling stage races; for example, the Tour of Britain also has a polka dot jersey.

Current situation

At the top of many climbs in the Tour, there are points for the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are divided into categories from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their difficulty, measured as a function of their steepness, length, location within the stage (near the start or end), and location in the overall race (early in the race or toward the end). A few of the toughest climbs were originally given different individual points scales, and were thus listed as "uncategorised" (Hors catégorie, a term that has since passed into the French language to refer to any exceptional phenomenon); however, since the 1980s in fact the hors catégorie climbs have been given a single points scale and effectively became, despite the name, just a top category above category 1. In 2004, the scoring system was changed such that the first rider over a fourth category climb was awarded 3 points while the first to complete a hors catégorie climb would win 20 points. Further points over a fourth category climb are only for the top three places while on a hors catégorie climb the top ten riders are rewarded. Since 2004, points scored on the final climb of the day have been doubled where that climb was at least a second category climb.^[9]

Distribution of points

The points that are gained by consecutive riders reaching a mountain top are distributed according to the following classification:

The points for a mountain top finish are doubled, if that mountain is an HC, 1C or 2C. The organisation of the race determines which mountains are included for the mountains classification and in which category they are.

If two riders have an equal number of points, the rider with the most first places on the hors catégorie cols, is declared winner. If the riders arrived first, an equal number of times, the first places on the 1st category cols are compared. Should the two riders again have an equal number of first arrivals in this category, the organization looks at mutual results in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th category, until a winner is found. If the number of first arrivals in all categories is equal for both riders, the rider with the highest position in the overall list of rankings receives the mountain jersey.

Up until 2011 the points that are gained by climbing the mountains were distributed according to the following classification:

• Hors Catégorie climbs: 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points respectively for the 1st until the 10th rider to climb the mountain
• First category climbs: 15, 13, 11, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points respectively for the 1st until the 8th rider to climb the mountain
• Second category climbs: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points respectively for the 1st until the 6th rider to climb the mountain
• Third category climbs and hills : 4, 3, 2 and 1 point, respectively for the 1st until the 4th rider to climb the hill
• Fourth category climbs (hills): 3, 2, and 1 point, respectively for the 1st until the 3rd rider to climb the hill.

Criticism of the system

In recent years, the system has had some criticism. Six-time winner Lucien Van Impe said that the mountain jersey has been devalued, because it goes to cyclists who have no hope to win the general classification so are allowed to escape and gather points in breakaways. This tactic was started by cyclists such as Laurent Jalabert and Richard Virenque, but according to Van Impe, they were really able to climb.^[11]

Winners

Meilleurs grimpeurs

This list shows the cyclists who were chosen meilleur grimpeur by the newspaper L'Auto. Although L'Auto was organising the Tour de France, the meilleur grimpeur title was not given by the tour organisation, so it is unofficial. However, it is a direct predecessor of the later Mountain King title. ^[12][13]

		Rider	Team
1905	FRA !	Pottier, ReneRené Pottier (FRA)
1906	FRA !	Pottier, ReneRené Pottier (FRA)
1907	FRA !	Georget, EmileEmile Georget (FRA)
1908	FRA !	Garrigou, GustaveGustave Garrigou (FRA)
1909	LUX !	Faber, FrancoisFrançois Faber (LUX)
1910	FRA !	Lapize, OctaveOctave Lapize (FRA)
1911	FRA !	Duboc, PaulPaul Duboc (FRA)
1912	BEL !	Defraeye, OdielOdiel Defraeye (BEL)
1913	BEL !	Thys, PhilippePhilippe Thys (BEL)
1914	BEL !	Lambot, FirminFirmin Lambot (BEL)
1919	FRA !	Barthelemy, HonoreHonoré Barthélemy (FRA)
1920	BEL !	Lambot, FirminFirmin Lambot (BEL)
1921	BEL !	Heusghem, HectorHector Heusghem (BEL)
1922	FRA !	Alavoine, JeanJean Alavoine (FRA)
1923	FRA !	Pelissier, HenriHenri Pélissier (FRA)
1924	ITA !	Bottecchia, OttavioOttavio Bottecchia (ITA)
1925	ITA !	Bottecchia, OttavioOttavio Bottecchia (ITA)
1926	BEL !	Buysse, LucienLucien Buysse (BEL)
1927	ITA !	Gordini, Giovanni-MicheleGiovanni-Michele Gordini (ITA)
1928	FRA !	Fontan, VictorVictor Fontan (FRA)
1929	FRA !	Fontan, VictorVictor Fontan (FRA)
1930	FRA !	Faure, BenoitBenoît Fauré (FRA)
1931	BEL !	Demuysere, JosephJoseph Demuysere (BEL)
1932	ESP !	Trueba, VicenteVicente Trueba (ESP)

Mountains classification

		Rider	Team
1933	ESP !	Trueba, VicenteVicente Trueba (ESP)	Touriste-routier
1934	FRA !	Vietto, ReneRené Vietto (FRA)	France
1935	BEL !	Vervaecke, FelicienFélicien Vervaecke (BEL)	Belgium
1936	ESP !	Berrendero, JulianJulian Berrendero (ESP)	Spain–Luxembourg
1937	BEL !	Vervaecke, FelicienFélicien Vervaecke (BEL)	Belgium
1938	ITA !	Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA)	Italy
1939	BEL !	Maes, SylvereSylvere Maes (BEL)	Belgium
1947	ITA !	Brambilla, PierrePierre Brambilla (ITA)	Italy
1948	ITA !	Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA)	Italy
1949	ITA !	Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA)	Italy
1950	FRA !	Bobet, LouisonLouison Bobet (FRA)	France
1951	FRA !	Geminiani, RaphaelRaphaêl Géminiani (FRA)	France
1952	ITA !	Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA)	Italy
1953	ESP !	Loroño, JesusJesús Loroño (ESP)	Spain
1954	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Spain
1955	LUX !	Gaul, CharlyCharly Gaul (LUX)	Luxembourg–Mixed
1956	LUX !	Gaul, CharlyCharly Gaul (LUX)	Luxembourg–Mixed
1957	ITA !	Nencini, GastoneGastone Nencini (ITA)	Italy
1958	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Spain
1959	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Spain
1960	ITA !	Massignan, ImerioImerio Massignan (ITA)	Italy
1961	ITA !	Massignan, ImerioImerio Massignan (ITA)	Italy
1962	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Marglat–Paloma–d'Alessandro
1963	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Marglat–Paloma–Motul–Dunlop
1964	ESP !	Bahamontes, FedericoFederico Bahamontes (ESP)	Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop
1965	ESP !	Jimenez, JulioJulio Jimenez (ESP)	Kas–Kaskol
1966	ESP !	Jimenez, JulioJulio Jimenez (ESP)	Ford-France–Hutchinson
1967	ESP !	Jimenez, JulioJulio Jimenez (ESP)	Spain
1968	ESP !	Gonzalez, AurelioAurelio Gonzalez (ESP)	Spain
1969	BEL !	Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL)	Faema
1970	BEL !	Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL)	Faema–Faemino
1971	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Sonolor–Lejeune
1972	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Sonolor
1973	ESP !	Torres, PedroPedro Torres (ESP)	La Casera–Bahamontes
1974	ESP !	Perurena, DomingoDomingo Perurena (ESP)	KAS
1975	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Gitane
1976	ITA !	Bellini, GiancarloGiancarlo Bellini (ITA)	Brooklyn
1977	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Lejeune–BP
1978	FRA !	Martinez, MarianoMariano Martínez (FRA)	Jobo–Superia
1979	ITA !	Battaglin, GiovanniGiovanni Battaglin (ITA)	Inoxpran
1980	FRA !	Martin, RaymondRaymond Martin (FRA)	Miko-Mercier
1981	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Marc
1982	FRA !	Vallet, BernardBernard Vallet (FRA)	La Redoute-Motobécane
1983	BEL !	Van Impe, LucienLucien Van Impe (BEL)	Metauro Mobili
1984	GBR !	Millar, RobertRobert Millar (GBR)	Peugeot
1985	COL !	Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL)	Café de Colombia
1986	FRA !	Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault (FRA)	La Vie Claire
1987	COL !	Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL)	Café de Colombia
1988	NED !	Rooks, StevenSteven Rooks (NED)	PDM-Ultima-Concorde
1989	NED !	Theunisse, Gert-JanGert-Jan Theunisse (NED)	PDM-Ultima-Concorde
1990	FRA !	Claveyrolat, ThierryThierry Claveyrolat (FRA)	R.M.O.
1991	ITA !	Chiappucci, ClaudioClaudio Chiappucci (ITA)	Carrera Jeans–Tassoni
1992	ITA !	Chiappucci, ClaudioClaudio Chiappucci (ITA)	Carrera Jeans–Vagabond
1993	SUI !	Rominger, TonyTony Rominger (SUI)	CLAS-Cajastur
1994	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Festina–Lotus
1995	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Festina–Lotus
1996	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Festina–Lotus
1997	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Festina–Lotus
1998	FRA !	Rinero, ChristopheChristophe Rinero (FRA)	Cofidis
1999	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Team Polti
2000	COL !	Botero, SantiagoSantiago Botero (COL)	Kelme–Costa Blanca
2001	FRA !	Jalabert, LaurentLaurent Jalabert (FRA)	CSC–Tiscali
2002	FRA !	Jalabert, LaurentLaurent Jalabert (FRA)	CSC–Tiscali
2003	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Quick-Step–Davitamon
2004	FRA !	Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA)	Quick-Step–Davitamon
2005	DEN !	Rasmussen, MichaelMichael Rasmussen (DEN)	Rabobank
2006	DEN !	Rasmussen, MichaelMichael Rasmussen (DEN)	Rabobank
2007	COL !	Soler, MauricioMauricio Soler (COL)	Barloworld
2008	ESP !	Sastre, CarlosCarlos Sastre (ESP)	CSC–Saxo Bank
2009	ITA !	Pellizotti, FrancoFranco Pellizotti[Notes 1] (ITA)	Liquigas
2010	FRA !	Charteau, AnthonyAnthony Charteau (FRA)	Bbox Bouygues Telecom
2011	ESP !	Sánchez, SamuelSamuel Sánchez (ESP)	Euskaltel–Euskadi
2012	FRA !	Voeckler, ThomasThomas Voeckler (FRA)	Team Europcar
2013	COL !	Quintana, NairoNairo Quintana (COL)	Movistar Team
2014	POL !	Majka, RafałRafał Majka (POL)	Tinkoff–Saxo
2015	GBR !	Froome, ChrisChris Froome (GBR)	Team Sky
2016	POL !	Majka, RafałRafał Majka (POL)	Tinkoff

Repeat winners

Rank	Name	Country	Wins	Years
1	Richard Virenque	France	7	1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004
2	Federico Bahamontes	Spain	6	1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964
	Lucien Van Impe	Belgium	6	1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983
4	Julio Jiménez	Spain	3	1965, 1966, 1967
5	Felicien Vervaecke	Belgium	2	1935, 1937
	Gino Bartali	Italy	2	1938, 1948
	Fausto Coppi	Italy	2	1949, 1952
	Charly Gaul	Luxembourg	2	1955, 1956
	Imerio Massignan	Italy	2	1960, 1961
	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	2	1969, 1970
	Luis Herrera	Colombia	2	1985, 1987
	Claudio Chiappucci	Italy	2	1991, 1992
	Laurent Jalabert	France	2	2001, 2002
	Michael Rasmussen	Denmark	2	2005, 2006
	Rafał Majka	Poland	2	2014, 2016

By nationality

Rank	Country	Wins	Names Winning Most	Most Recent Winner
1	France	20	Richard Virenque (7)	Thomas Voeckler 2012
2	Spain	17	Federico Bahamontes (6)	Samuel Sánchez 2011
3	Italy	12	Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Imerio Massignan, Claudio Chiappucci (2 each)	Claudio Chiappucci 1992
4	Belgium	11	Lucien Van Impe (6)	Lucien Van Impe 1983
5	Colombia	5	Luis Herrera (2)	Nairo Quintana 2013
6	Denmark	2	Michael Rasmussen (2)	Michael Rasmussen 2006
	Luxembourg	2	Charly Gaul (2)	Charly Gaul 1956
	Netherlands	2	Steven Rooks, Gert-Jan Theunisse	Gert-Jan Theunisse 1989
	United Kingdom	2	Robert Millar, Chris Froome	Chris Froome 2015
	Poland	2	Rafał Majka (2)	Rafał Majka 2016
11	Switzerland	1	Tony Rominger	Tony Rominger 1993

Notes

Winniners of the general and mountain classification in the same year

Some cyclists have managed to win both the general classification and the mountains classification in the same year. In the early years of the Tour, only the highest mountains gave points. Cyclists aiming for the Tour win generally did well on those mountains, so the riders high in the general classification were typically also high in the mountains classification, which made the double more likely. Later, the rules of the mountains classification changed, giving more points to mountains of lower category. The cyclists aiming to win the general classification did not spend energy on those lower category mountains, and thus other cyclists could aim for the mountains classification win. In 1969, Eddy Merckx won not only the general classification and the mountains classification, but also the points classification.

The general classification and the mountain classification were won by the same rider ten times, by seven different cyclists:

• 1938: Gino Bartali
• 1939: Sylvère Maes
• 1948: Gino Bartali
• 1949: Fausto Coppi
• 1952: Fausto Coppi
• 1959: Federico Bahamontes
• 1969: Eddy Merckx
• 1970: Eddy Merckx
• 2008: Carlos Sastre
• 2015: Chris Froome

References

Bibliography

• Woodland, Les (2000). The Unknown Tour De France: The Many Faces of the World's Biggest Bicycle Race. U.S.: Cycling Resources. ISBN 978-1-892495-26-6. Retrieved 6 May 2013. 
• Woodland, Les (2007) [1st. pub. 2003]. The Yellow Jersey Companion to the Tour de France. London: Random House. ISBN 978-0-224-08016-3. Retrieved 26 April 2013. 
• McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol (2006). The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1. Indianapolis, U.S.: Dog Ear Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59858-180-5. Retrieved 6 May 2013.