Points classification in the Tour de France

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

Origin

Previous points systems

From 1905 to 1912, the Tour de France was decided with a points system, intended to reduce cheating.

In the years directly afterwards, this classification was still calculated and published by l'Auto, but it was not official, and was shown with the intention 'This would have been the result if the system would be different. As far as I could find out, no prize was given to the rider on top.

In 1935, there was a secondary classification on points, but it worked differently: stage winners recieved points based on the time difference with the next rider. They won 1 point if they won with the same time as the next rider, 3 points if the next rider was half a minute behind, and 8 points if the next rider was more than a minute behind.

In 1939, there was a points classification in flat stages not run as individual time trial, in which the first five riders scored points, 5 points for the winner, down to 1 point for the fifth rider. There was also a similar classification for time trials where the first ten riders scored points.

In 1947, the points classification as in 1905 to 1912 was also calculated, and this was again done in 1948 and 1949, under the name 'Trophée des cachous Gallus'.

Official introduction 1953

Because in 1953, the Tour de France was 50 years old, the points classification was introduced as extra classification. It was also called a 'jubileum prize' because of this. (source). Just like the general classifation had the yellow jersey, this classification would get the green jersey for its leader. After the first stage, Fritz Schär received the first green jersey, but because he also was leader of the general classification, he wore the yellow jersey during the next stage. There was no rule yet that the second rider would then wear the green jersey, so it was no worn during the second stage. The first time that the leader in the points classification was not also leading the general classification was after the fifth stage, when Fritz Schär dropped in the general classification, so during the sixth stage he was the first rider to ever wear the green jersey during a stage in the Tour de France.

How points are scored

How points were scored in the points classification in the Tour de France 1953–1958

In the first years, the system from 1905 to 1912 was repeated: after every stage the winner of the stage received 1 point, the second 2 points, and so on. These points were added per cyclist, and the one with the fewest points was leader of the points classification. It was used in this way until 1958, but apparently points were shared if riders finished together. (Remember that there was no photofinish or chips yet, so riders were timed manually, and the order of riders in a large group could not be determined.)

How points were scored in the points classification of the Tour de France 1959

In 1959, the system changed. A rider scored 100 points for a stage victory, down to 1 point for the twenty-fifth place, and no points for riders worse than twenty-fifth. From then on, the rider with the most points was leading the points classificiation.

Points system in the Tour de France of 1959
Position12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
Points100806050403530252321191715131110987654321

How points were scored in the points classification of the Tour de France 1960

In 1960, the system changed again: fewer points were given, and only the top 6 of every (half) stage received points.(source)

Points system in the Tour de France of 1960
Position123456
Points1064321

How points are scored in the points classification of the Tour de France 1961–1967

In 1961, the system was changed again to give more points. Maybe because the 1960 Tour had seen many riders being tied on points.

Points system in the Tour de France of 1961–1967
Position123456789101112131415
Points252016141210987654321

For a complete overview of all years: see my book.

Specialisation

In the beginning, the points classification was just another prize for the best riders, and not made for sprinters. But over time, it started to evolve to a classification where sprinters did better, especially after the rule change in 1964 where mountain stages would be given fewer points. The graph below shows the position in the general classification of the rider who won the points classification.

Unfortunately, you can not see the graph. It should be there, maybe try another browser.

It shows that in the first years, up to 1970, the winner of the points classification often finishes in the top ten of the general classification. The "worst" winner of the points classification in that time was Willy Planckaert, who in 1966 finished in 40th place. In the period between 1970 and 1995, the winner of the points classification finished 13 times within the best 50, and 12 times outside of the best 50. Those who finished inside the top 50 (Merckx, Van Springel, Maertens, Esclassan, Hinault, Kelly and Jalabert) won a Grand Tour, except for Van Springel and Esclassan. After the fourth place of Jalabert in 1995, the winner of the points classification never finished better than in 60th place (update: Sagan finished better than 60th twice!). Because of the rule changes and specialization in the cycling sport, it seems impossible to win the points classification and finish high in the general classification. Van Aert finished 21st in the general classification in 2022, and Pogacar has reached the podium of the points classification, which are the only times since Jalabert that a rider finished in the top 3 of the points classification and in the top 25 of the general classification.

Sponsor

The green jersey has had different sponsors:

1953:
La belle jardiniere
1967:
Get
1968:
Sic
1972:
Pelforth
1973–1983:
Michelin
1984–1988:
BP
1989:
Castelli
1990:
Panasonic
1991–2010
PMU

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