The Mountains classification in the Tour de France is a competition in the Tour de France where cyclists receive points for reaching the top of a mountain first. The leader of the competition is called the "King of the Mountains". He wears the polka dot jersey, a white jersey with red dots.

History change

In 1905, the newspaper l'Auto began naming one cyclist of the Tour de France the best climber.[1] In 1933 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.

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]

Current situation change

At the top of each climb 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 and length. 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.[6]

Distribution of points change

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

Point Distribution Grid as of 2012[7]
4C 3C 2C 1C HC
1st 1 2 5 10 25
2nd 1 3 8 20
3rd 2 6 16
4th 1 4 14
5th 2 12
6th 1 10
7th 8
8th 6
9th 4
10th 2

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 change

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.[8]

Winners of the Mountains classification change

Repeat winners change

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

List of cyclists named meilleurs grimpeurs change

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. [9][10]

Year Nationality Name Team
1905   René Pottier
1906   René Pottier
1907   Emile Georget
1908   Gustave Garrigou
1909   François Faber
1910   Octave Lapize
1911   Paul Duboc
1912   Odiel Defraeye
1913   Philippe Thys
1914   Firmin Lambot
1919   Honoré Barthélemy
1920   Firmin Lambot
1921   Hector Heusghem
1922   Jean Alavoine
1923   Henri Pélissier
1924   Ottavio Bottecchia
1925   Ottavio Bottecchia
1926   Lucien Buysse
1927   Giovanni-Michele Gordini
1928   Victor Fontan
1929   Victor Fontan
1930   Benoît Fauré
1931   Joseph Demuysere
1932   Vicente Trueba

Winners of the Mountains classification by year change

Year Nationality Name Team
1933   Vicente Trueba Touriste-routier
1934   René Vietto France
1935   Félicien Vervaecke Belgium
1936   Julian Berrendero Spain–Luxembourg
1937   Félicien Vervaecke Belgium
1938   Gino Bartali Italy
1939   Sylvere Maes Belgium
1947   Pierre Brambilla Italy
1948   Gino Bartali Italy
1949   Fausto Coppi Italy
1950   Louison Bobet France
1951   Raphaêl Géminiani France
1952   Fausto Coppi Italy
1953   Jesús Loroño Spain
1954   Federico Bahamontes Spain
1955   Charly Gaul Luxembourg–Mixed
1956   Charly Gaul Luxembourg–Mixed
1957   Gastone Nencini Italy
1958   Federico Bahamontes Spain
1959   Federico Bahamontes Spain
1960   Imerio Massignan Italy
1961   Imerio Massignan Italy
1962   Federico Bahamontes Marglat–Paloma–d'Alessandro
1963   Federico Bahamontes Marglat–Paloma–Motul–Dunlop
1964   Federico Bahamontes Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop
1965   Julio Jimenez Kas–Kaskol
1966   Julio Jimenez Ford-France–Hutchinson
1967   Julio Jimenez Spain
1968   Aurelio Gonzalez Spain
1969   Eddy Merckx Faema
1970   Eddy Merckx Faema–Faemino
1971   Lucien Van Impe Sonolor–Lejeune
1972   Lucien Van Impe Sonolor
1973   Pedro Torres La Casera–Bahamontes
1974   Domingo Perurena KAS
1975   Lucien Van Impe Gitane
1976   Giancarlo Bellini Brooklyn
1977   Lucien Van Impe Lejeune–BP
1978   Mariano Martínez Jobo–Superia
1979   Giovanni Battaglin Inoxpran
1980   Raymond Martin Miko-Mercier
1981   Lucien Van Impe Marc
1982   Bernard Vallet La Redoute-Motobécane
1983   Lucien Van Impe Metauro Mobili
1984   Robert Millar Peugeot
1985   Luis Herrera Café de Colombia
1986   Bernard Hinault La Vie Claire
1987   Luis Herrera Café de Colombia
1988   Steven Rooks PDM-Ultima-Concorde
1989   Gert-Jan Theunisse PDM-Ultima-Concorde
1990   Thierry Claveyrolat R.M.O.
1991   Claudio Chiappucci Carrera Jeans–Tassoni
1992   Claudio Chiappucci Carrera Jeans–Vagabond
1993   Tony Rominger CLAS-Cajastur
1994   Richard Virenque Festina–Lotus
1995   Richard Virenque Festina–Lotus
1996   Richard Virenque Festina–Lotus
1997   Richard Virenque Festina–Lotus
1998   Christophe Rinero Cofidis
1999   Richard Virenque Team Polti
2000   Santiago Botero Kelme–Costa Blanca
2001   Laurent Jalabert CSC–Tiscali
2002   Laurent Jalabert CSC–Tiscali
2003   Richard Virenque Quick-Step–Davitamon
2004   Richard Virenque Quick-Step–Davitamon
2005   Michael Rasmussen Rabobank
2006   Michael Rasmussen Rabobank
2007   Mauricio Soler Barloworld
2008   Bernhard Kohl[Notes 1] Gerolsteiner
2009   Franco Pellizotti[Notes 2] Liquigas
2010   Anthony Charteau Bbox Bouygues Telecom
2011   Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel–Euskadi
2012   Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar
2013   Nairo Quintana Movistar Team
2014   Rafał Majka Tinkoff–Saxo

Winners by nation change

Rank Country Wins Names Winning Most Most Recent Winner
1   France 21 Richard Virenque (7) Thomas Voeckler 2012
2   Spain 17 Federico Bahamontes (6) Samuel Sánchez 2011
3   Italy 11 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 (1 each) Gert-Jan Theunisse 1989
9   Poland 1 Rafał Majka Rafał Majka 2014
     Switzerland 1 Tony Rominger Tony Rominger 1993
    United Kingdom 1 Robert Millar Robert Millar 1984
Notes
  1. Kohl's results have been removed, after he tested positive and admitted the use of doping, but the classification has not been remade yet. Carlos Sastre was ranked second.
  2. Pellizotti's results have been removed, after his biological passport indicated irregular values, but the classification has not been remade yet. Egoi Martínez was ranked second.

References change

  1. Tour - WielerArchieven
  2. Tour Xtra: Polka Dot Jersey
  3. "Tour Xtra: Polka Dot Jersey".
  4. Woodland 2007, p. 273.
  5. Tour de France 2011—The Galibier 1911–2011. Letour.fr (10 July 1911). Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  6. "Regulations of the race" (PDF). ASA/letour.fr. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  7. http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/docs/reglement.pdf ", pg 37 General best climber ranking" (PDF). {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. Atkins, Ben (22 July 2010). "Tour de France: Lucien Van Impe criticises polka dot mountains jersey classification". Velonation. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  9. Tour - Pagina 3 - WielerArchieven
  10. Tour-Giro-Vuelta

Bibliography change

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