King of the Mountains

King of the Mountains / Queen of the Mountains
	A polkadot cycling jersey worn by Queen of the Mountains: Alison Jackson
Sport	Road bicycle racing
Competition	Tour de France ; Giro d'Italia ; Vuelta a España ; Tour of California ;
Awarded for	Climbing specialists
Local name	Le Roi des montagnes (French); Gran Premio della Montagna (Italian); Gran Premio de la montaña (Spanish);

Last updated November 28, 2023

The King of the Mountains (KoM) is an award given to the best climbing specialist in a men's cycling road race; in women's cycle racing, Queen of the Mountains (QoM) is used.

While the title may be given to the rider who achieves the highest position over several designated climbs in a single-day road race, it is more usually applied to stage races (for example, the Grand Tours, Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, and smaller races like the Tour of California) where points are accumulated over the duration of the whole race.

In the Tour de France, where it is officially known as the Mountains classification, at the top of each significant climb, points are awarded to the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are categorised from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors catégorie (outside category) applies to mountains rated even more severe than first category. Similar ratings apply to climbs in the other major Tours.

In the Tour de France, the leader in the mountains competition wears a distinctive polka dot jersey (French: maillot à pois rouges). Although the King of the Mountains was first recognised in the 1933 Tour de France, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975. In the Giro, the King of the Mountains leader wore a green jersey until 2011; in 2012, the jersey changed to blue at the behest of the corporate sponsor of the mountains classification. In the Vuelta several jersey designs have been used, but since 2010 it has been white with blue polka dots.

Additionally, King of the Mountains (KoM) can also apply to the highest ranked user in certain activities tracked by applications such as Strava.^[1]

Mountains classification winners of the Grand Tours

Winners by year

Year^[2]	Tour de France	Giro d'Italia	Vuelta a España
2023	Giulio Ciccone (ITA) (2/2)	Thibaut Pinot (FRA) (1/1)	Remco Evenepoel (BEL) (1/1)
2022	Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) (1/1)	Koen Bouwman (NED) (1/1)	Richard Carapaz (ECU) (1/1)
2021	Tadej Pogačar (SLO) (2/2)	Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) (2/2)	Michael Storer (AUS) (1/1)
2020	Tadej Pogačar (SLO) (1/2)	Ruben Guerreiro (POR) (1/1)	Guillaume Martin (FRA) (1/1)
2019	Romain Bardet (FRA) (1/1)	Giulio Ciccone (ITA) (1/2)	Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) (1/2)
2018	Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) (1/1)	Chris Froome (GBR) (2/2)	Thomas De Gendt (BEL) (1/1)
2017	Warren Barguil (FRA) (1/1)	Mikel Landa (ESP) (1/1)	Davide Villella (ITA) (1/1)
2016	Rafał Majka (POL) (2/2)	Mikel Nieve (ESP) (1/1)	Omar Fraile (ESP) (2/2)
2015	Chris Froome (GBR) (1/2)	Giovanni Visconti (ITA) (1/1)	Omar Fraile (ESP) (1/2)
2014	Rafał Majka (POL) (1/2)	Julián Arredondo (COL) (1/1)	Luis León Sánchez (ESP) (1/1)
2013	Nairo Quintana (COL) (1/1)	Stefano Pirazzi (ITA) (1/1)	Nicolas Edet (FRA) (1/1)
2012	Thomas Voeckler (FRA) (1/1)	Matteo Rabottini (ITA) (1/1)	Simon Clarke (AUS) (1/1)
2011	Samuel Sánchez (ESP) (1/1)	Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (2/2)	David Moncoutié (FRA) (4/4)
2010	Anthony Charteau (FRA) (1/1)	Matthew Lloyd (AUS) (1/1)	David Moncoutié (FRA) (3/4)
2009	Egoi Martínez (ESP)^[A] (2/2)	Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (1/2)	David Moncoutié (FRA) (2/4)
2008	Carlos Sastre (ESP)^[B] (2/2)	Emanuele Sella (ITA) (1/1)	David Moncoutié (FRA) (1/4)
2007	Mauricio Soler (COL) (1/1)	Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) (1/1)	Denis Menchov (RUS) (1/1)
2006	Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (2/2)	Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) (1/1)	Egoi Martínez (ESP) (1/2)
2005	Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (1/2)	José Rujano Guillén (VEN) (1/1)	Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) (1/1)
2004	Richard Virenque (FRA) (7/7)	Fabian Wegmann (GER) (1/1)	Félix Cárdenas (COL) (2/2)
2003	Richard Virenque (FRA) (6/7)	Fredy González (COL) (2/2)	Félix Cárdenas (COL) (1/2)
2002	Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (3/3)	Julio Perez Cuapio (MEX) (1/1)	Aitor Osa (ESP) (1/1)
2001	Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (2/3)	Fredy González (COL) (1/2)	José María Jiménez (ESP) (4/4)
2000	Santiago Botero (COL) (1/1)	Francesco Casagrande (ITA) (1/1)	Carlos Sastre (ESP) (1/2)
1999	Richard Virenque (FRA) (5/7)	José Jaime González (COL) (2/2)	José María Jiménez (ESP) (3/4)
1998	Christophe Rinero (FRA) (1/1)	Marco Pantani (ITA) (1/1)	José María Jiménez (ESP) (2/4)
1997	Richard Virenque (FRA) (4/7)	José Jaime González (COL) (1/2)	José María Jiménez (ESP) (1/4)
1996	Richard Virenque (FRA) (3/7)	Mariano Piccoli (ITA) (2/2)	Tony Rominger (SUI) (3/3)
1995	Richard Virenque (FRA) (2/7)	Mariano Piccoli (ITA) (1/2)	Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (1/3)
1994	Richard Virenque (FRA) (1/7)	Pascal Richard (SUI) (1/1)	Luc Leblanc (FRA) (1/1)
1993	Tony Rominger (SUI) (2/3)	Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (5/5)	Tony Rominger (SUI) (1/3)
1992	Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (4/5)	Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (3/5)	Carlos Hernández (ESP) (1/1)
1991	Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (2/5)	Iñaki Gastón (ESP) (1/1)	Luis Herrera (COL) (5/5)
1990	Thierry Claveyrolat (FRA) (1/1)	Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (1/5)	José Martín Farfán (COL) (1/1)
1989	Gert-Jan Theunisse (NED) (1/1)	Luis Herrera (COL) (4/5)	Óscar Vargas (COL) (1/1)
1988	Steven Rooks (NED) (1/1)	Andrew Hampsten (USA) (1/1)	Álvaro Pino (ESP) (1/1)
1987	Luis Herrera (COL) (3/5)	Robert Millar (GBR) (2/2)	Luis Herrera (COL) (2/5)
1986	Bernard Hinault (FRA) (1/1)	Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) (1/1)	José Luis Laguía (ESP) (5/5)
1985	Luis Herrera (COL) (1/5)	José Luis Navarro (ESP) (1/1)	José Luis Laguía (ESP) (4/5)
1984	Robert Millar (GBR) (1/2)	Laurent Fignon (FRA) (1/1)	Felipe Yáñez (ESP) (2/2)
1983	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (8/8)	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (7/8)	José Luis Laguía (ESP) (3/5)
1982	Bernard Vallet (FRA) (1/1)	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (6/8)	José Luis Laguía (ESP) (2/5)
1981	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (5/8)	Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (3/3)	José Luis Laguía (ESP) (1/5)
1980	Raymond Martin (FRA) (1/1)	Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (2/3)	Juan Fernández (ESP) (1/1)
1979	Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) (1/1)	Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (1/3)	Felipe Yáñez (ESP) (1/2)
1978	Mariano Martínez (FRA) (1/1)	Ueli Sutter (SUI) (1/1)	Andrés Oliva (ESP) (5/5)
1977	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (4/8)	Faustino Fernández Oviés (ESP) (1/1)	Pedro Torres (ESP) (1/1)
1976	Giancarlo Bellini (ITA) (1/1)	Andrés Oliva (ESP) (4/5)	Andrés Oliva (ESP) (3/5)
1975	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (3/8)	Francisco Galdós (ESP) (1/1) Andrés Oliva (ESP) (2/5)	Andrés Oliva (ESP) (1/5)
1974	Domingo Perurena (ESP) (1/1)	José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (4/4)	José Luis Abilleira (ESP) (2/2)
1973	Pedro Torres (ESP) (1/1)	José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (3/4)	José Luis Abilleira (ESP) (1/2)
1972	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (2/8)	José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (2/4)	José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (1/1)
1971	Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (1/8)	José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (1/4)	Joop Zoetemelk (NED) (1/1)
1970	Eddy Merckx (BEL) (3/3)	Martin Vandenbossche (BEL) (1/1)	Agustín Tamames (ESP) (1/1)
1969	Eddy Merckx (BEL) (2/3)	Claudio Michelotto (ITA) (1/1)	Luis Ocaña (ESP) (1/1)
1968	Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (2/2)	Eddy Merckx (BEL) (1/3)	Francisco Gabica (ESP) (1/1)
1967	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (6/6)	Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (1/2)	Mariano Díaz (ESP) (1/1)
1966	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (5/6)	Franco Bitossi (ITA) (3/3)	Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) (1/1)
1965	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (4/6)	Franco Bitossi (ITA) (2/3)	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (3/6)
1964	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (9/9)	Franco Bitossi (ITA) (1/3)	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (2/6)
1963	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (8/9)	Vito Taccone (ITA) (2/2)	Julio Jiménez (ESP) (1/6)
1962	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (7/9)	Angelino Soler (ESP) (1/1)	Antonio Karmany (ESP) (3/3)
1961	Imerio Massignan (ITA) (2/2)	Vito Taccone (ITA) (1/2)	Antonio Karmany (ESP) (2/3)
1960	Imerio Massignan (ITA) (1/2)	Rik Van Looy (BEL) (1/1)	Antonio Karmany (ESP) (1/3)
1959	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (6/9)	Charly Gaul (LUX) (4/4)	Antonio Suárez (ESP) (1/1)
1958	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (5/9)	Jean Brankart (BEL) (1/1)	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (4/9)
1957	Gastone Nencini (ITA) (2/2)	Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (3/3)	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (3/9)
1956	Charly Gaul (LUX) (3/4)	Charly Gaul (LUX) (2/4) Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (2/9)	Nino Defilippis (ITA) (1/1)
1955	Charly Gaul (LUX) (1/4)	Gastone Nencini (ITA) (1/2)	Giuseppe Buratti (ITA) (1/1)
1954	Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (1/9)	Fausto Coppi (ITA) (5/5)	Race not held
1953	Jesús Loroño (ESP) (1/1)	Pasquale Fornara (ITA) (1/1)
1952	Fausto Coppi (ITA) (4/5)	Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (2/3)
1951	Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (1/3)	Louison Bobet (FRA) (2/2)
1950	Louison Bobet (FRA) (1/2)	Hugo Koblet (SUI) (1/1)	Emilio Rodríguez (ESP) (3/3)
1949	Fausto Coppi (ITA) (3/5)	Fausto Coppi (ITA) (2/5)	Race not held
1948	Gino Bartali (ITA) (9/9)	Fausto Coppi (ITA) (1/5)	Bernardo Ruiz (ESP) (1/1)
1947	Pierre Brambilla (ITA) (1/1)	Gino Bartali (ITA) (8/9)	Emilio Rodríguez (ESP) (2/3)
1946	Race not held	Gino Bartali (ITA) (7/9)	Emilio Rodríguez (ESP) (1/3)
1945		Race not held	Julián Berrendero (ESP) (3/3)
1944			Race not held
1943			Race not held
1942			Julián Berrendero (ESP) (2/3)
1941			Fermín Trueba (ESP) (1/1)
1940		Gino Bartali (ITA) (6/9)	Race not held
1939	Sylvere Maes (BEL) (1/1)	Gino Bartali (ITA) (5/9)
1938	Gino Bartali (ITA) (4/9)	Giovanni Valetti (ITA) (1/1)
1937	Félicien Vervaecke (BEL) (2/2)	Gino Bartali (ITA) (3/9)
1936	Julián Berrendero (ESP) (1/3)	Gino Bartali (ITA) (2/9)	Salvador Molina (ESP) (1/1)
1935	Félicien Vervaecke (BEL) (1/2)	Gino Bartali (ITA) (1/9)	Edoardo Molinar (ITA) (1/1)
1934	René Vietto (FRA) (1/1)	Remo Bertoni (ITA) (1/1)	Race not held
1933	Vicente Trueba (ESP) (1/1)	Alfredo Binda (ITA) (1/1)	Race not held
Year	Tour de France	Giro d'Italia	Vuelta a España

Notes

A. ^a Franco Pellizotti was the Mountains leader but later had his results removed after his biological passport indicated irregular values, but the classification has not been remade yet. Egoi Martínez was ranked second and later declared winner.
B. ^b Bernhard Kohl was the Mountains leader but later had his results removed after a positive test for MIRCERA and admission to the use of doping. Carlos Sastre was ranked second and later declared winner.^[3]

Career triples

No rider has won the "King of the Mountains" in all three Grand Tours in the same year. Only two riders, Federico Bahamontes and Luis Herrera, have won all three competitions in different years. Ten riders have achieved doubles.

Federico Bahamontes (ESP) — 1 Giro mountains jersey (1956), 6 Tour mountains jerseys (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964), 2 Vuelta mountains jersey (1957, 1958)
Luis Herrera (COL) — 1 Giro mountains jersey (1989), 2 Tour mountains jerseys (1985, 1987), 2 Vuelta mountains jersey (1987, 1991)

Natural doubles

The Tour/Giro double has been achieved by four riders:

The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by two riders:

Manuel Fuente (1972)
Andrés Oliva (1975, 1976)

The Tour/Vuelta double has also been achieved by four riders:

Most wins (Grand Tour)

Two riders have won the "King of the Mountains" in the Tour de France six times: Federico Bahamontes (Spain) and Lucien Van Impe (Belgium), while Richard Virenque (France) holds the record with seven wins. Gino Bartali holds the record for the Giro d'Italia, also with seven wins, while José Luis Laguía has won the Vuelta equivalent five times.

9: Federico Bahamontes – Spain
- Tour de France (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964)
- Giro d'Italia (1956)
- Vuelta a España (1957, 1958)
9: Gino Bartali – Italy
- Tour de France (1938, 1948)
- Giro d'Italia (1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947)
8: Lucien Van Impe – Belgium
- Tour de France (1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983)
- Giro d'Italia (1982, 1983)
7: Richard Virenque – France
- Tour de France (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004)
6: Julio Jiménez – Spain
- Tour de France (1965, 1966, 1967)
- Vuelta a España (1963, 1964, 1965)

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References

↑ Wynn, Nigel (2017-01-16). "How to take a Strava KOM". cyclingweekly.com. Cycling Weekly . Retrieved 2021-06-06.
↑ Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. Gbrathletics.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-13.
↑ Official history of the Tour, see pages 117 and 123 Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine

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[1] Wynn, Nigel (2017-01-16). "How to take a Strava KOM". cyclingweekly.com. Cycling Weekly . Retrieved 2021-06-06.

[2] Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. Gbrathletics.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-13.

[3] Official history of the Tour, see pages 117 and 123 Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine

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