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Points classification in the Tour de France

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Green jersey
Jasper Philipsen wearing the green jersey at the 2023 Tour de France
SportRoad bicycle racing
CompetitionTour de France
Awarded forBest sprinter
Local nameMaillot vert (French)
History
First award1953
Editions72 (as of 2024)
First winner Fritz Schär (SUI)
Most wins Peter Sagan (SVK)
7 wins
Most recent Biniam Girmay (ERI)

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.

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

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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 to reflect the brand color of its sponsor, 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.

Sponsorship

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The jersey gained its green colour from its first sponsor, La Belle Jardinière, a French clothing store.[contradictory][4] The jersey was sponsored by French betting company Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) for nearly 25 years, with Czech car manufacturer Škoda becoming the current sponsor in 2015.[5]

Jerseys ranking

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The green jersey is the second most important jersey in the Tour de France, after the yellow jersey.[6][7] If a rider is the leader in the general and points classifications he will wear the yellow jersey. The second rider in the points classification will wear the green jersey with some exceptions:

  • if the second rider leads another classification, he will wear the leader jersey (for example, if rider A is first in both the general classification and the points classification, and rider B is second in the points classification and first in the young rider classification, rider A will wear the yellow jersey and rider B will wear the white jersey);[7][8]
  • if the second rider is world champion he will wear the rainbow jersey, and if the rider is a continental champion or national champion he will wear the corresponding jersey.[9][10]

In both cases, the third rider (or the following eligible rider) will wear the green jersey.

Points system

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Current

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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:[11]

Current points classification
Type 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
"flat" stage finish 50 30 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
"hilly finish/medium mountain" stage finish 30 25 22 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 6 5 4 3 2
"high mountain" stage finish 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
individual time trial 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
intermediate sprint 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Riders can lose points for various infractions of the rules, which means some riders finish the Tour with a negative points tally.[12]

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 catégorie.

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

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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:[13]

Points classification in 2009
Type 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th
"flat" stage finish 35 30 26 24 22 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
"medium mountain" stage finish 25 22 20 18 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
"high mountain" stage finish 20 17 15 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
prologue/individual time trial 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
intermediate sprint 6 4 2

Starting from the 2011 Tour de France, a system very similar to the current one was used:[14]

Points classification in 2011
Type 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
"flat" stage finish 45 35 30 26 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2
"hilly finish/medium mountain" stage finish 30 25 22 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 6 5 4 3 2
"high mountain" stage finish 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
individual time trial 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
intermediate sprint 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Winners

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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 (FRG) 137
1978  Freddy Maertens (BEL) 242  Jacques Esclassan (FRA) 189  Bernard Hinault (FRA) 123
1979  Bernard Hinault (FRA) 253  Dietrich Thurau (FRG) 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 Induráin (ESP) 180
1996  Erik Zabel (GER) 335  Frédéric Moncassin (FRA) 284  Fabio Baldato (ITA) 255
1997  Erik Zabel (GER) 350  Frédéric 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
2021  Mark Cavendish (GBR) 337  Michael Matthews (AUS) 291  Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) 227
2022  Wout van Aert (BEL) 480  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) 286  Tadej Pogačar (SLO) 250
2023  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) 377  Mads Pedersen (DEN) 258  Bryan Coquard (FRA) 203
2024  Biniam Girmay (ERI) 387  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) 354  Bryan Coquard (FRA) 208

Repeat winners

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Peter Sagan is the most successful cyclist in the history of the points classification competition with seven green jerseys. Erik Zabel has the most podium finishes, with 12 (6 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds). Mark Cavendish has the largest gap between wins; 10 years separating his first and second green jerseys.

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
 Mark Cavendish (GBR) 2011, 2021

By nationality

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Wins Country Years
21  Belgium 1955, 1956, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974,
1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988, 2007, 2022, 2023
9  France 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1977, 1979, 1992, 1995
8  Germany[n 1] 1962, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
7  Slovakia 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
5  Australia 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2017
 Ireland 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 2020
4  Netherlands 1964, 1965, 1967, 1987
2  Switzerland 1953, 1954
 Uzbekistan[n 2] 1993, 1994
 Norway 2005, 2009
 Italy 1968, 2010
 United Kingdom 2011, 2021
1  Soviet Union[n 2] 1991
 Spain 2008
 Eritrea 2024
  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. ^ a b 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).

Days in green jersey

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after the end of 2023 Tour de France

Rider Total
 Peter Sagan (SVK) 130
 Erik Zabel (GER) 89
 Freddy Maertens (BEL) 71
 Sean Kelly (IRL) 68
 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) 54
 André Darrigade (FRA) 51
 Robbie McEwen (AUS) 51

Riders leading all stages of an edition

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France André Darrigade 1959 (22 stages)

Belgium Freddy Maertens 1976 (27 stages)

Some riders wore the jersey in some stages as second in points classification (because the leader wore yellow jersey) and led all other stages:

Belgium Freddy Maertens 1978

Belgium Eric Vanderaerden 1986

Slovakia Peter Sagan 2019

Belgium Wout Van Aert 2022

Sagan would have did the same in 2014 and in 2018 but in the first case he wore the white jersey as leader of that classification and in the second case he wore the rainbow jersey.

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ "The Green Jersey". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 2022-03-30. It owes its colour to its first partner, La Belle Jardinière, a chain of clothing stores established in the 19th century
  5. ^ Clarke, Stuart (23 March 2015). "Tour de France announces new green jersey sponsor". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF). Letour.fr. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023. There is an established order of priority for the different leaders' jerseys: the yellow jersey, followed by the green jersey, then the red polka-dot jersey and finally the white jersey
  7. ^ a b "UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES" (PDF). 2023-06-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-24. 2.6.018 - [...] If a rider is leading more than one classification, the order of priority of the distinctive jerseys shall be as follows: 1. general classification by time; 2. general classification by points; 3. general climber's classification; 4. others (young rider, combined, etc.); the order of priority among these other jerseys shall be set by the organiser.
  8. ^ "Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF). Letour.fr. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023. When a rider is leading several classifications, he naturally only wears one jersey: the one designated by the order of priority. The other jerseys are then worn by the riders lying 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the corresponding classification
  9. ^ "Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF). Letour.fr. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023. However, if this rider is required to wear his world, continental or national champion's jersey, then he will wear this jersey
  10. ^ "UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES" (PDF). 2023-06-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-24. 2.6.018 - [...] In this situation, the organiser may require another rider next on the relevant classification to wear a jersey which is not being worn by the leader of that classification. However, if this rider must wear his world or national champion's jersey, or the leader's jersey of a UCI cup, circuit, series or classification, he shall wear that jersey.
  11. ^ "Sporting stakes / rules". Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  12. ^ "Le Tour 101". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  13. ^ "Regulations of the race" (PDF). ASO/letour.fr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-05. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  14. ^ "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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