Mountains classification in the Tour de France

Below is an old version of an explanation of the mountains classification in the Tour de France. For a more complete story, that I tried to keep up to date, see my book about Tour de France statistics and rules.

Also see the overview of mountain passes in the Tour de France.

Origin

Some sources say that from 1905 on, l'Auto declared one rider to be the Meilleur Grimpeur. I have not found any any reference to that in the l'Auto archives, so until I find evidence of that, I consider that a myth. I suspect that somewhere in the 1940s or 1950s, l'Équipe made an overview of who had been the best climber in each Tour, and later on somebody misinterpreted this list.

1908: Prix Labor-Hutchinson

In 1908, there was a prize sponsored by Labor-Hutchinson, which was won by earning points on mountain tops. Not every mountain gave the same number of points, but it was always the top three at a mountain pass that received points. Four mountains were used, and the ranking at the end was:

Points for the Labor-Hutchinson prize in 1908
source (Passerieu is not in the source, but he is in the stage report)
RiderBallonPorteLaffreyEsterelTotal
Lucien Petit-Breton680620
Gustave Garrigou1000313
François Faber462012
André Pierre Pottier00606
Giovanni Gerbi00415
Georges Passerieu0120012

The points distribution had been determined before the Tour started, so it did not depend on the margin to other riders. (source)

In the next years, more and higher mountains were included in the courses. At the highest points, prize money was available for the first rider(s), but no classification was made between 1909 and 1932.

Points system

Points system in 1933–1939

In 1933, a classification was used. This was a success, and it was repeated in the Tour of 1934. The winner received 10000 francs.(source).

In the Tours from 1933 to 1939, the organisation selected around 15 mountains, where points could be earned according to this simple system:

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1933–1939
Position12345678910
Points10987654321

Mountains were not yet divided into separate categories. To win this mountain classification, a rider had to finish the last mountain stage, but did not need to finish the Tour. (source) This happened in 1937, when Felicien Vervaecke had won the mountains classification after the 15th stage, but did not start the 17th stage.

Points system in 1947 and 1948

In 1947, there were two categories for mountains. The highest mountains were in category A, the lower in category B. The Tour of 1948 also used two categories, but from now on they were named category 1 (toughest) and category 2 (easiest).

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1947 and 1948
Position12345678910
Category A/110987654321
Category B/254321

Points system in 1949–1961

In 1949, the third category was added, and the points for the second category slightly increased.

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1949–1961
Position12345678910
Category 110987654321
Category 2654321
Category 3321

Points system in 1962

A fourth category was added in 1962. More points were earned on the other categories, and the points system was no longer linear.

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1962
Position12345678910
Category 11512108654321
Category 210864321
Category 354321
Category 4321

Points system in 1963

The points system in 1963 was identical to the one in 1962, only the fourth category was not used.

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1963
Position12345678910
Category 11512108654321
Category 210864321
Category 354321

Points system in 1964–1970

In 1964, the fourth category returned, and the system was identical to that of 1962.

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1964–1970
Position12345678910
Category 11512108654321
Category 210864321
Category 354321
Category 4321

In 1966, a rider had to finish the Tour to be eligible for the mountain classification. (source)

Points system in 1971

The points system changed in 1971, when the second, third and fourth categories were given more points.

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 1971
Position12345678910
Category 11512108654321
Category 21210865432
Category 31086432
Category 45321

Points system in 2005–2006

The point system in 2005 and 2006 was as follows: (Rules 2005, article 25c, Rules 2006, article 24c)

Points system of the mountains classification in the Tour de France of 2005–2006
Position12345678910
HC2018161412108765
Category 115131198765
Category 21098765
Category 34321
Category 4321

When a stage ended on a pass of category HC, 1 or 2, points were doubled. To win the mountains classification, a rider had to finish the Tour. In case riders were tied on points, the rider who reach the most HC category climbs was ranked higher. If that was equal, the most category 1 climbs, then 2, 3 and 4. If all this was tied, the position in the general classification would have been decisive.

Distribution in categories per year

Year4321HCMaximum available pointsPoints winnerPercentage
1933000160160 134 83%
1934000140140 111 79%
1935000150150 118 78%
1936000160160 132 82%
1937000160160 114 71%
1938000120120 107 89%
1939000100100 86 86%
1947005110135 98 72%
19480095095 62 65%
194903750101 81 80%
19500545089 58 65%
195107860129 60 46%
195207770133 92 69%
1953013740121 54 44%
19540101040130 95 73%
195508860132 84 63%
195608660120 71 59%
195708650110 44 40%
195808570124 81 65%
195909860135 73 54%
196009760129 56 43%
1961010860138 95 68%
1962185460209 137 65%
196306670195 147 75%
1964139670249 173 69%
1965116680243 133 54%
1966135770239 123 51%
1967139570239 122 51%
19682011550240 96 40%
1969169880293 155 52%
19703010980350 128 36%
1971249870411 228 55%
19722488100446 229 51%
19732291180452 225 49%
1974236780379 171 45%
1975178790400 285 71%
1976228790415 170 40%
19771812670380 244 64%
19782615680448 187 41%
19792712683502 239 47%
19802713774557 223 40%
19811912764497 284 57%
19823115783584 278 47%
19832914985634 272 42%
198432167105670 284 42%
198536221193908 440 48%
19863322787946 351 37%
1987422891191234 452 36%
1988277794727 326 44%
19892310696792 438 55%
1990368665760 321 42%
19913214664760 312 41%
199230151064840 410 48%
199333107104865 449 51%
19943013586860 392 45%
1995401481051000 434 43%
199625131185915 383 41%
19972081195870 579 66%
19982191056785 200 25%
19992298105860 279 32%
2000229767800 347 43%
20011916577845 258 30%
20022111686815 262 32%
20031796115825 324 39%
200421171093426 226 53%
200524188105474 185 39%
20062613787460 166 36%
20073410697477 206 43%
20082614548404 128 31%
200925186114452 210 46%
201020139106472 143 30%
20111414959317 108 34%
201223118116345 135 39%
201320161387372 147 39%
201417218116359 181 50%
201520121267339 119 35%
201618127147392 209 53%
201716145117319 169 52%
20181897109351 170 48%
2019141811113275 86 31%
202015216124287 82 28%
20212397114266 107 40%
202222166107324 72 22%
202317239124308 106 34%

Analysis

Below is a graph with the position of the winner of the mountains classification in the general classification.

Helaas, je kunt de grafiek niet zien. Hij is er wel, kijk maar in een andere browser die wel svg aankan.

Different than the points classification, this does not really show specialisation. The winner of the mountains classification is (almost always) in the top 30.

Exceptions:

Sponsor

In 1968, the mountains classification received a visible sponsor: the leader received a patch to put on their jersey. In 1975, the polkadot jersey was introduced.

1968:
Poulain
1972–1973:
Poulain
1975–1978:
Poulain
1979–1981:
Campagnoli
1982–1984:
Poulain
1985–1989:
Cafe de Colombia
1990:
Ripolin
1991–1992:
Coca cola
1993–2008:
Champion
2009–2010:
Carrefour

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