Points classification

Last updated

The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning sprints at certain places along the route, most often called intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and is often known as the sprint classification; however, in some stage races these classifications are based on different criteria.

Contents

The points classification is arguably the second most important title and cycling jersey to win at a cycling stage race behind the general classification, which is the winner of the event by overall time.

Points classification winners of the Grand Tours

Winners by year

Legend
Rider also won General classification
Rider also won General and Mountains classification
YearJersey violet.svg Giro d'Italia Jersey green.svg Tour de France Jersey green.svg Vuelta a España
1945Introduced in 1966 Introduced in 1953 Flag of Spain (1938-1945).svg  Delio Rodríguez  (ESP) (1/1)
1953Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Fritz Schär  (SUI) (1/1) Reintroduced in 1955
1954Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Ferdinand Kübler  (SUI) (1/1)
1955Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Stan Ockers  (BEL) (1/2) Flag of Italy.svg  Fiorenzo Magni  (ITA) (1/1)
1956Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Stan Ockers  (BEL) (2/2) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rik Van Steenbergen  (BEL) (1/1)
1957Flag of France.svg  Jean Forestier  (FRA) (1/1) Flag of Spain.svg  Vicente Iturat  (ESP) (1/1)
1958Flag of France.svg  Jean Graczyk  (FRA) (1/2) Flag of Spain.svg  Salvador Botella  (ESP) (1/1)
1959Flag of France.svg  André Darrigade  (FRA) (1/2) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rik Van Looy  (BEL) (1/3)
1960Flag of France.svg  Jean Graczyk  (FRA) (2/2) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Arthur Decabooter  (BEL) (1/1)
1961Flag of France.svg  André Darrigade  (FRA) (2/2) Flag of Spain.svg  Antonio Suárez  (ESP) (1/1)
1962Flag of Germany.svg  Rudi Altig  (FRG) (1/2) Flag of Germany.svg  Rudi Altig  (GER) (2/2)
1963Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rik Van Looy  (BEL) (2/3) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Bas Maliepaard  (NED) (1/1)
1964Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jan Janssen  (NED) (1/5) Flag of Spain.svg  José Pérez Francés  (ESP) (1/1)
1965Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jan Janssen  (NED) (2/5) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rik Van Looy  (BEL) (3/3)
1966Flag of Italy.svg  Gianni Motta  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Willy Planckaert  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jos van der Vleuten  (NED) (1/1)
1967Flag of Italy.svg  Dino Zandegù  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jan Janssen  (NED) (4/5) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jan Janssen  (NED) (3/5)
1968Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (1/6) Flag of Italy.svg  Franco Bitossi  (ITA) (1/3) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jan Janssen  (NED) (5/5)
1969Flag of Italy.svg  Franco Bitossi  (ITA) (2/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (2/6) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Raymond Steegmans  (BEL) (1/1)
1970Flag of Italy.svg  Franco Bitossi  (ITA) (3/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Walter Godefroot  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Guido Reybrouck  (BEL) (1/1)
1971Flag of Italy.svg  Marino Basso  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (3/6) Flag of France.svg  Cyrille Guimard  (FRA) (1/1)
1972Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Roger De Vlaeminck  (BEL) (1/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (4/6) Flag of Spain.svg  Domingo Perurena  (ESP) (1/2)
1973Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (6/6) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Herman Van Springel  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL) (5/6)
1974Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Roger De Vlaeminck  (BEL) (2/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Patrick Sercu  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Spain.svg  Domingo Perurena  (ESP) (2/2)
1975Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Roger De Vlaeminck  (BEL) (3/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rik Van Linden  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Spain.svg  Miguel María Lasa  (ESP) (1/1)
1976Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Moser  (ITA) (1/4) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Freddy Maertens  (BEL) (1/4) Flag of Germany.svg  Dietrich Thurau  (GER) (1/1)
1977Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Moser  (ITA) (2/4) Flag of France.svg  Jacques Esclassan  (FRA) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Freddy Maertens  (BEL) (2/4)
1978Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Moser  (ITA) (3/4) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Freddy Maertens  (BEL) (3/4) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Ferdi Van Den Haute  (BEL) (1/1)
1979Flag of Italy.svg  Giuseppe Saronni  (ITA) (1/4) Flag of France.svg  Bernard Hinault  (FRA) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Alfons De Wolf  (BEL) (1/1)
1980Flag of Italy.svg  Giuseppe Saronni  (ITA) (2/4) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Rudy Pevenage  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (1/8)
1981Flag of Italy.svg  Giuseppe Saronni  (ITA) (3/4) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Freddy Maertens  (BEL) (4/4) Flag of Spain.svg  Francisco Javier Cedena  (ESP) (1/1)
1982Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Moser  (ITA) (4/4) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (2/8) Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Stefan Mutter  (SUI) (1/1)
1983Flag of Italy.svg  Giuseppe Saronni  (ITA) (4/4) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (3/8) Flag of Spain.svg  Marino Lejarreta  (ESP) (1/1)
1984Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Urs Freuler  (SUI) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Frank Hoste  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Guido Van Calster  (BEL) (1/1)
1985Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Johan van der Velde  (NED) (1/3) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (4/8) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (5/8)
1986Flag of Italy.svg  Guido Bontempi  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eric Vanderaerden  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (6/8)
1987Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Johan van der Velde  (NED) (2/3) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Jean-Paul van Poppel  (NED) (1/1) Flag of Spain.svg  Alfonso Gutiérrez  (ESP) (1/1)
1988Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Johan van der Velde  (NED) (3/3) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Planckaert  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (7/8)
1989Flag of Italy.svg  Giovanni Fidanza  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sean Kelly  (IRL) (8/8) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Malcolm Elliott  (GBR) (1/1)
1990Flag of Italy.svg  Gianni Bugno  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of East Germany.svg  Olaf Ludwig  (GDR) (1/1) Flag of East Germany.svg  Uwe Raab  (GDR) (1/2)
1991Flag of Italy.svg  Claudio Chiappucci  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (URS) (1/5) Flag of Germany.svg  Uwe Raab  (GER) (2/2)
1992Flag of Italy.svg  Mario Cipollini  (ITA) (1/3) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (1/7) Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (UZB) (2/5)
1993Flag of Italy.svg  Adriano Baffi  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (UZB) (3/5) Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Tony Rominger  (SUI) (1/2)
1994Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (UZB) (4/5) Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (UZB) (5/5) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (2/7)
1995Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Tony Rominger  (SUI) (2/2) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (3/7) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (4/7)
1996Flag of Italy.svg  Fabrizio Guidi  (ITA) (1/2) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (1/9) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (5/7)
1997Flag of Italy.svg  Mario Cipollini  (ITA) (2/3) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (2/9) Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (6/7)
1998Flag of Italy.svg  Mariano Piccoli  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (3/9) Flag of Italy.svg  Fabrizio Guidi  (ITA) (2/2)
1999Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA) (7/7) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (4/9) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Frank Vandenbroucke  (BEL) (1/1)
2000Flag of Russia.svg  Dmitri Konyshev  (RUS) (1/1) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (5/9) Flag of Spain.svg  Roberto Heras  (ESP) (1/1)
2001Flag of Italy.svg  Massimo Strazzer  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (6/9) Flag of Spain.svg  José María Jiménez  (ESP) (1/1)
2002Flag of Italy.svg  Mario Cipollini  (ITA) (3/3) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Robbie McEwen  (AUS) (1/3) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (7/9)
2003Flag of Italy.svg  Gilberto Simoni  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Baden Cooke  (AUS) (1/1) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (8/9)
2004Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Petacchi  (ITA) (1/3) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Robbie McEwen  (AUS) (2/3) Flag of Germany.svg  Erik Zabel  (GER) (9/9)
2005Flag of Italy.svg  Paolo Bettini  (ITA) (1/2) Flag of Norway.svg  Thor Hushovd  (NOR) (1/3) Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Petacchi  (ITA) (2/3)
2006Flag of Italy.svg  Paolo Bettini  (ITA) (2/2) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Robbie McEwen  (AUS) (3/3) Flag of Norway.svg  Thor Hushovd  (NOR) (2/3)
2007No winner [A] Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tom Boonen  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Italy.svg  Daniele Bennati  (ITA) (1/2)
2008Flag of Italy.svg  Daniele Bennati  (ITA) (2/2) Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) (1/1) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Greg Van Avermaet  (BEL) (1/1)
2009Flag of Russia.svg  Denis Menchov  (RUS) (1/1) Flag of Norway.svg  Thor Hushovd  (NOR) (3/3) Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) (1/1)
2010Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) (1/1) Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Petacchi  (ITA) (3/3) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark Cavendish  (GBR) (1/4)
2011Flag of Italy.svg  Michele Scarponi  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark Cavendish  (GBR) (2/4) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Bauke Mollema  (NED) (1/1)
2012Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) (1/1) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (1/8) Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) (1/4)
2013Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark Cavendish  (GBR) (3/4) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (2/8) Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) (2/4)
2014Flag of France.svg  Nacer Bouhanni  (FRA) (1/1) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (3/8) Flag of Germany.svg  John Degenkolb  (GER) (1/1)
2015Flag of Italy.svg  Giacomo Nizzolo  (ITA) (1/2) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (4/8) Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) (3/4)
2016Flag of Italy.svg  Giacomo Nizzolo  (ITA) (2/2) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (5/8) Flag of Italy.svg  Fabio Felline  (ITA) (1/1)
2017Flag of Colombia.svg  Fernando Gaviria  (COL) (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Michael Matthews  (AUS) (1/1) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Chris Froome  (GBR) (1/1)
2018Flag of Italy.svg  Elia Viviani  (ITA) (1/1) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (6/8) Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) (4/4)
2019Flag of Germany.svg  Pascal Ackermann  (GER) (1/1) Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (7/8) Flag of Slovenia.svg  Primož Roglič  (SLO) (1/2)
2020Flag of France.svg  Arnaud Démare  (FRA) (1/2) Flag of Ireland.svg  Sam Bennett  (IRL) (1/1) Flag of Slovenia.svg  Primož Roglič  (SLO) (2/2)
2021Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK) (8/8) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark Cavendish  (GBR) (4/4) Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Fabio Jakobsen  (NED) (1/1)
2022Flag of France.svg  Arnaud Démare  (FRA) (2/2) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Wout van Aert  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Denmark.svg  Mads Pedersen  (DEN) (1/1)
2023Flag of Italy.svg  Jonathan Milan  (ITA) (1/2) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jasper Philipsen  (BEL) (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Kaden Groves  (AUS) (1/2)
2024Flag of Italy.svg  Jonathan Milan  (ITA) (2/2) Flag of Eritrea.svg  Biniam Girmay  (ERI) (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Kaden Groves  (AUS) (2/2)
YearJersey violet.svg Giro d'Italia Jersey green.svg Tour de France Jersey green.svg Vuelta a España

A.  a Alessandro Petacchi was the Points leader but tested positive for elevated levels of salbutamol, resulting in a suspension and forfeiture of all results during the event. No alternate winner was declared.

Most points jerseys

RankRiderTotalGiroTourVuelta
1 Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel [i] 96 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)3 (2002, 2003, 2004)
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly 84 (1982, 1983, 1985, 1989)4 (1980, 1985, 1986, 1988)
Flag of Slovakia.svg Peter Sagan 81 (2021)7 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
4 Flag of France.svg Laurent Jalabert 71 (1999)2 (1992, 1995)4 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx 62 (1968, 1973)3 (1969, 1971, 1972)1 (1973)
6 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Djamolidine Abdoujaparov 51 (1994)3 (1991, 1993, 1994)1 (1992)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Janssen 53 (1964, 1965, 1967)2 (1967, 1968)
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Cavendish 41 (2013)2 (2011, 2021)1 (2010)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Maertens 43 (1976, 1978, 1981)1 (1977)
Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser 44 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1982)
Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Saronni 44 (1979, 1980, 1981, 1983)
Flag of Spain.svg Alejandro Valverde 44 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018)

i In 2013, Zabel admitted to taking banned substances from 1996 to 2003, including EPO and the steroid hormone cortisone. [1]

Career triples

Winning the points classification in each of the three Grand Tours during a cyclist's career is a significant accomplishment. The Tour/Giro/Vuelta triple has been achieved by five riders: [2]

RiderTotalGiroTourVuelta
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Eddy Merckx  (BEL)62 (1968, 1973)3 (1969, 1971, 1972)1 (1973)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov  (UZB)51 (1994)3 (1991, 1993, 1994)1 (1992)
Flag of France.svg  Laurent Jalabert  (FRA)71 (1999)2 (1992, 1995)4 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Petacchi  (ITA)31 (2004)1 (2010)1 (2005)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark Cavendish  (GBR)41 (2013)2 (2011, 2021)1 (2010)

Natural doubles

Winning the points classification in two Grand Tours in a single year is a rare feat.

Days leading classification

In previous tours, sometimes a stage was broken in two (or three). "Days" column gives the number of times the cyclist was a classification leader at the end of the day. Numbers in brackets include split stages.

after the end of 2024 Vuelta a España

Legend
Current records
Rider was leading in all Grand Tours
RankRiderDaysLeading spanGiroTourVuelta
1 Flag of Slovakia.svg Peter Sagan 1492011–2021141305
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly 148(151)1979–1989065(67)83(84)
3 Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel 141(142)1996–2007088(89)53
4 Flag of France.svg Laurent Jalabert 1051990–199922578
5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Maertens 93(102)1976–19819(12)65(70)19(20)
6 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx 84(91)1968–1974 (1975)51(52)30(35)3(4)
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Cavendish 812009–2021234315
8 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck 76(81)1969–198467(71)8(9)1
9 Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Saronni 74(76)1978–198574(76)00
10 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg / Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Djamolidine Abdoujaparov 731991–199535416
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robbie McEwen 692002–200718510

Six other riders were leading points classification in all three Grand Tours: Rudi Altig, Marino Basso, Francesco Moser, Thierry Marie, Alessandro Petacchi and André Greipel. Petacchi is the sole cyclist that did this in one season (2003).

The rider with the most Grand Tour days at the top of the classification in a single calendar year is Laurent Jalabert - 35 in 1995.

Notes

    See also

    References

    1. "Erik Zabel admits to 'doping for many years' and resigns from PCC". The Guardian. Press Association. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
    2. "Results Grand Tours". Cycling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 May 2012.