Points classification in the Tour de France
|
|
| Award details | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Road bicycle racing |
| Competition | Tour de France |
| Given for | Best sprinter |
| Local name | Maillot vert (French) |
| History | |
| First award | 1953 |
| Editions | 63 (as of 2016) |
| First winner |
 Fritz Schär (SUI)
|
| Most wins |
|
| Most recent |
 Peter Sagan (SVK)
|
Erik Zabel (GER)
The points classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that 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 symbol for the points classification in the sense that when a cyclist wins the points classification.
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.
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 least 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 (French: maillot vert). The color green was chosen because the sponsor was a lawn mower producer.
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Wikipedia