Combination
There was also a combination classification in the Vuelta from 1969 to 1974, but that used completely different rules, and is not discussed on this page.
In the 1980s, the combination classification was reintroduced. I have found no indication that it was used in 1984 or before. For 1985, Wikipedia and Memoire du Cyclisme indicate that there was a combination classification, which gave a red polka-dot jersey to is leader, and that Millar won it. unfortunately I could not find any final standing, and if I use the points system for later years then Millar would not win, but Delgado, but I do not have all results for intermediate sprints. If intermediate sprints would not count, then Rodriguez would have been above Millar. And a different source said that the red polka-dot jersey in 1985 was for the best foreign rider, so my conclusion is that it did not exist yet in 1985.
From 1986 to 1993 it definitely existed, and the points system was clear: add the positions in the general classification, points classification, mountains classification, intermediate sprints classification and special sprints classification, for riders who are listed in all five classification. If no rider was listed in five classification, riders that figured in four classifications were eligible, and so on.
Between 1994 and 2002, there was no combination classification. It returned in 2003; by then the intermediate sprints classification and special sprints classification no longer existed, so only the positions in the general, points and mountains classification were relevant.
The positions below are calculated by me, so not official.
| Rank | Rider | GC | PC | MC | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. Carapaz | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | P. Roglič | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | H. Carthy | 3 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| 4 | D. Martin | 4 | 3 | 10 | 17 |
| 5 | G. Martin | 14 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | D. Gaudu | 8 | 14 | 4 | 26 |
| 7 | E. Mas | 5 | 11 | 16 | 32 |
| 8 | A. Vlasov | 11 | 12 | 11 | 34 |
| 9 | M. Soler | 18 | 8 | 12 | 38 |
| 10 | S. Kuss | 16 | 18 | 5 | 39 |
| 11 | A. Valverde | 10 | 13 | 21 | 44 |
| 12 | M. Woods | 34 | 9 | 7 | 50 |
| 13 | D. de la Cruz | 7 | 26 | 26 | 59 |
| 14 | W. Poels | 6 | 15 | 41 | 62 |
| 15 | J. Izagirre | 29 | 21 | 13 | 63 |
| 16 | G. Mäder | 20 | 35 | 20 | 75 |
| 17 | M. Cattaneo | 17 | 36 | 23 | 76 |
| 18 | M. Storer | 40 | 28 | 15 | 83 |
| 19 | R. Costa | 44 | 32 | 8 | 84 |
| 20 | T. Wellens | 78 | 16 | 2 | 96 |
| 21 | T. Arensman | 41 | 27 | 29 | 97 |
| 22 | B. Armirail | 28 | 48 | 25 | 101 |
| 23 | J. Chaves | 27 | 31 | 50 | 108 |
| 24 | N. Oliveira | 39 | 51 | 19 | 109 |
| 25 | W. Barta | 22 | 41 | 47 | 110 |
| 26 | M. Donovan | 48 | 34 | 28 | 110 |
| 27 | R. Power | 37 | 53 | 27 | 117 |
| 28 | R. Stannard | 76 | 24 | 17 | 117 |
| 29 | N. Peters | 36 | 50 | 32 | 118 |
| 30 | L. Mate | 23 | 69 | 33 | 125 |
| 31 | M. Valgren | 33 | 42 | 55 | 130 |
| 32 | J. Sütterlin | 55 | 33 | 48 | 136 |
| 33 | N. Schultz | 25 | 74 | 44 | 143 |
| 34 | Á. Madrazo Ruiz | 43 | 73 | 30 | 146 |
| 35 | O. Fraile | 64 | 40 | 42 | 146 |
| 36 | J. Simon | 65 | 46 | 36 | 147 |
| 37 | R. Gesink | 35 | 70 | 46 | 151 |
| 38 | R. Cavagna | 84 | 57 | 18 | 159 |
| 39 | G. Serrano | 57 | 59 | 51 | 167 |
| 40 | P. Périchon | 97 | 58 | 14 | 169 |
| 41 | I. Oliveira | 101 | 63 | 24 | 188 |
| 42 | J. Bol | 80 | 79 | 31 | 190 |
| 43 | W. Smit | 73 | 78 | 40 | 191 |
| 44 | A. Roux | 66 | 72 | 57 | 195 |
| 45 | J. Lastra | 61 | 81 | 58 | 200 |
| 46 | T. Van der Sande | 96 | 75 | 35 | 206 |
| 47 | B. Van Moer | 100 | 71 | 37 | 208 |
| 48 | J. Arcas | 77 | 82 | 53 | 212 |
| 49 | A. Bagüés | 92 | 68 | 52 | 212 |
| 50 | J. Osorio | 113 | 77 | 60 | 250 |
| 51 | A. Molenaar | 128 | 80 | 43 | 251 |
