| Combination jersey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sport | Road bicycle racing |
| Competition | Tour de France |
| Given 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, white, green and polka dot jerseys. [1] [2]
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. Caritoux, a second year professional, had shown his climbing talent earlier that year by winning the stage up the Mont-Ventoux of the 1984 Paris–Nice but he did not enter the 1984 Vuelta a Espana thinking of the overall classification. On the 12th stage to Lagos de Covadonga an area in Asturias which includes one of the most important climbs of the Vuelta, Caritoux finished second behind the German Raimund Dietzen. Caritoux took the leader’s jersey from Pedro Delgado. Alberto Fernández was 32 seconds behind Caritoux in the general classification at that stage. Fernández had been third the year previously in the Vuelta a España and in the Giro d'Italia. On the stage 14 mountain time trial, Caritoux lost five seconds. Caritoux lost further time in the final individual time trial but still managed to finish the race with a slender lead of six seconds over Fernández, the smallest margin in the history of the Vuelta a España, and also the smallest ever seen in a Grand Tour. Fernández died later on in 1984.
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.
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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 1987 Vuelta a España was the 42nd edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Benidorm, with a prologue individual time trial on 23 April, and Stage 12 occurred on 5 May with a stage from Cangas de Onís. The race finished in Madrid on 15 May.
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 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 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 11 occurred on 30 April with a stage from Soria. The race finished in Madrid on 8 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 10 occurred on 6 May with a stage to Barcelona. The race finished in Miranda de Ebro on 15 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 1979 Vuelta a España was the 34th 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 24 April, and Stage 10 occurred on 4 May with a stage to Zaragoza. The race finished in Madrid on 13 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 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 6 May with a stage from Calafell. The race finished in San Sebastián on 14 May.
The 1979 Vuelta a España was the 34th 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 24 April, and Stage 11 occurred on 5 May with a stage from Zaragoza. The race finished in Madrid on 13 May.
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.
Media related to Combination classification in the Tour de France at Wikimedia Commons
