Points classification in the Tour de France


The points classification 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, 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

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.
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, 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.
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. 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 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.
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, 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 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.

Points system

Current

, 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, and for the cyclists with the fastest times in the prologue or individual time trials, under the following scheme:
Riders can lose points for various infractions to the rules, which means some riders finish the Tour with a negative points tally.
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, 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. 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:
Starting from the 2011 Tour de France, a system very similar to the current one was used:

Winners

YearWinnerPointsSecond placePointsThird placePoints
1953271307406
1954215.5284.5286.5
1955322399409
1956280464465
1957301317366
1958347406553
1959613524503
1960744035
1961174169148
1962173144140
1963275138123
1964208199165
1965144130124
1966211189178
1967154119111
1968241219200
1969244149136
1970212207161
1971202186107
1972196135132
1973187168145
1974283270170
1975342240199
1976293140128
1977236140137
1978242189123
1979253157109
1980194153148
1981428222184
1982429152149
1983360144126
1984322318247
1985434332279
1986277232210
1987263247228
1988278193183
1989277194163
1990256221118
1991316263175
1992293262202
1993298157153
1994322273230
1995333271180
1996335284255
1997350223198
1998327230221
1999323275196
2000321203184
2001252244169
2002280261208
2003216214188
2004272247245
2005194182178
2006288199195
2007256234232
2008270220217
2009280270172
2010243232222
2011334272236
2012421280260
2013409312267
2014431282271
2015432366298
2016470228199
2017370234220
2018477246203
2019316248224

Repeat winners

By nationality