 | |
| Sport | Road bicycle racing |
|---|---|
| Competition | Tour de France |
| Awarded for | Best combination leader |
| Local name | Maillot du combiné (French) |
| History | |
| First award | 1968 |
| Editions | 15 |
| Final award | 1989 |
| First winner |  Franco Bitossi (ITA) |
| Most wins |  Eddy Merckx (BEL)
|
| Most recent |  Steven Rooks (NED) |
The combination jersey (also known as the multi-coloured jersey or technicolour jersey) was the jersey in the Tour de France worn by the leader of the combination classification.
In 1968 the combination classification was introduced in the Tour de France. From 1969 on, the leader was recognized by a white jersey. The jersey was awarded to the cyclists that did best in all other classifications: General, Points and Mountains. It was seen as the classification for the all-round cyclist. Only cyclists ranking in each of the three other classifications were ranked in the Combination classification. Ranking was established by adding the cyclists' ranks in the three other classifications: 1 point for rank 1, 2 points for rank 2 and so on. Cyclists being at level on ranks for one of the other classifications were added the average of the corresponding points (e.g. 2 cyclists being level at rank 3 where counting (3+4)/2 = 3.5 points). Finally, the lower the sum the better the combination classification ranking.
From 1975 on, the combination classification temporarily disappeared, and the white jersey was given to the leader of the young rider classification.
In 1980, the combination classification was reintroduced, sponsored by French television station TF1, therefore officially named "Grand Prix TF1". This lasted until 1984, when the combination classification disappeared again. In 1985, the combination classification was again reintroduced, and this time the multicoloured jersey was used. After the 1989 Tour, the combination classification was discontinued, as the new director Jean-Marie Leblanc wanted to modernise the Tour. Since then, the Tour has awarded only the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys, adding again the white jersey since 2000 edition . [1] [2]
The 42nd Edition Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from 23 April to 15 May 1987. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,921 km, and was won by Luis Herrera of the Café de Colombia cycling team. It was the first win of a Grand Tour by a Colombian and also the first of a South American.
The 39th Edition Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 Grand Tours, was held from 17 April to 6 May 1984. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,593 km, and was won by Éric Caritoux of the Skil–Sem cycling team. It was one of the most surprising grand tour victories in cycling history as Caritoux, a virtual unknown who was part of a lineup that was thrown together at the last minute, won by the closest margin in history.
The 32nd Edition Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the three grand tours, was held from 26 April to 15 May 1977. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 2,785 km (1,731 mi), and was won by Freddy Maertens of the Flandria cycling team. While Maertens dominated the race he won the General Classification by less than 3:00. The domination was from his record shattering 13 stages wins including the first and the last. He also won the points classification. Pedro Torres won the mountains classification.
The 28th Edition Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 26 to May 13, 1973. It consisted of 17 stages covering a total of 3,061 km, and was won by Eddy Merckx of the Molteni cycling team. As Merckx had already won several editions of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia with his win in the Vuelta, he became the third cyclist after Jacques Anquetil and Felice Gimondi to win all three grand tours in his career. Merckx went on to win the 1973 Giro d'Italia and became the first cyclist to win the Vuelta-Giro double. Merckx also won the points classification and José Luis Abilleira won the mountains classification. With Merckx finishing first, Ocaña second and Thévenet third the podium of the 1973 Vuelta contained one previous winner and two future winners of the Tour de France making it one of the best podiums in the history of the race, according to the official race website. Merckx won six stages in this edition and Gerben Karstens won four.
The 31st Edition Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the three grand tours, was held from 27 April to 16 May 1976. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,340 km (2,080 mi), and was won by José Pesarrodona of the Kas-Campagnolo cycling team. Andres Oliva won the mountains classification while Dietrich Thurau won the points classification.
The 1984 Tour de France was the 71st edition of Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Tour began in Montreuil with a prologue individual time trial on 29 June and Stage 11 occurred on 9 July with a mountainous stage to Guzet-Neige. The race finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 22 July.
The 1984 Vuelta a España was the 39th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Jerez de la Frontera, with a prologue individual time trial on 17 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 27 April with a stage to Burgos. The race finished in Madrid on 6 May.
The 1985 Vuelta a España was the 40th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Valladolid, with a prologue individual time trial on 23 April, and Stage 9 occurred on 2 May with a stage to Balneario de Panticosa. The race finished in Salamanca on 12 May.
The 1985 Vuelta a España was the 40th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Valladolid, with a prologue individual time trial on 23 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 3 May with a stage from Sabiñánigo. The race finished in Salamanca on 12 May.
The 1981 Vuelta a España was the 36th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Santander, with a prologue individual time trial on 21 April, and Stage 9 occurred on 30 April with a stage to Murcia. The race finished in Madrid on 10 May.
The 1983 Vuelta a España was the 38th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Almussafes, with a prologue individual time trial on 19 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 29 April with a stage to Soria. The race finished in Madrid on 8 May.
The 1982 Vuelta a España was the 37th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Santiago de Compostela, with a prologue individual time trial on 20 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 30 April with a stage from Puigcerdà. The race finished in Madrid on 9 May.
The 1978 Vuelta a España was the 33rd edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Gijón, with a prologue individual time trial on 25 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 5 May with a stage to Calafell. The race finished in San Sebastián on 14 May.
The 1977 Vuelta a España was the 32nd edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Dehesa de Campoamor, with a prologue individual time trial on 26 April, and Stage 11a occurred on 7 May with a stage from Barcelona. The race finished in Miranda de Ebro on 15 May.
The 1970 Giro d'Italia was the 53rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began in San Pellegrino Terme on 18 May, and Stage 10 occurred on 28 May with a stage to Rivisondoli. The race finished in Bolzano on 7 June. For the first time in the Giro, antidoping tests were carried out in the year 1968. The outcomes, though, were communicated only at the end of the race and caused some perplexity and dispute. Even after some counter-tests, Delisle, Motta, Abt, Bodrero, Van Schil, Galera, Diaz and Di Toro were proven positive.
The 1972 Giro d'Italia was the 55th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began in Venice on 21 May, and Stage 11 occurred on 1 June with a stage to Forte dei Marmi. The race finished in Milan on 11 June.
The 1973 Giro d'Italia was the 56th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began with a prologue two-man team time trial in Verviers on 18 May, and Stage 10 occurred on 29 May with a stage to Lanciano. The race finished in Trieste on 9 June.
The 1973 Giro d'Italia was the 56th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began with a prologue two-man team time trial in Verviers on 18 May, and Stage 11 occurred on 30 May with a stage from Lanciano. The race finished in Trieste on 9 June.
The 1974 Giro d'Italia was the 57th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began in the Vatican City on 16 May, and Stage 12 occurred on 28 May with a stage from Forte dei Marmi. The race finished in Milan on 8 June.
The 1975 Giro d'Italia was the 58th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began in Milan on 17 May, and Stage 12 occurred on 29 May with a stage from Chianciano Terme. The race finished at the Stelvio Pass on 7 June.
Media related to Combination classification in the Tour de France at Wikimedia Commons
