- Points classification in the Tour de France
-
Green jersey 
Award details Sport Road Cycling Competition Tour de France Given for Best sprinter Local name(s) Maillot vert (French) History First award 1953 Editions 56 First winner 
Fritz Schär (SUI)Most wins 
Erik Zabel (GER)
- 6 times
Most recent 
Mark Cavendish (GBR)The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition. The leader is indicated by a green jersey.
Contents
History
After scandals in the 1904 Tour de France, the rules of the 1905 Tour de France were changed: the winner was no longer determined by the time system, but with the points system. The cyclists received points, equal to their ranking in the stage, and the cyclist with the least points was the leader of the race. After the 1912 Tour de France, the system was changed back to the time system that is still in use.
In the 1953 Tour de France, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Tour de France, the points system was reintroduced, but this time as an additional classification. Because the leader in the general classification wears a yellow jersey, the leader in the points classification also received a special jersey, a green jersey (French: maillot vert). The color green was chosen because the sponsor was a lawn mower producer.
In the first years, the cyclist only received penalty points for not finishing with a high place, so the cyclist with the least points was awarded the green jersey. From 1959 on, the system was changed so the cyclists were awarded points for high place finishes (with first place getting the most points, and lower placings getting successively fewer points), so the cyclist with the most points was awarded the green jersey.
In 1968 the jersey was red, to please the sponsor[1].
Whereas the yellow jersey is awarded for the lowest cumulative time in the race, the green jersey reflects points gained for high placings on each stage and intermediate "hot spots," especially during the flat stages of the Tour. The intermediate sprints were formerly for an additional red jersey, with the points for the green a 'side-effect'; however, this was later scrapped, and they are now part of the green jersey competition.
The points classification is widely thought of as the "sprinter's competition," since the riders generally remain together in one large peloton during flat stages, leaving those with the fastest acceleration at the end to fight for the stage win. However, to win the competition a rider will need a reasonable level of all-round skills as well as strong sprinting, since he will need to finish within the time limit on mountain stages to remain in contention, and ideally will be able to contest intermediate sprints during mountain stages as well. For example, Mario Cipollini was one of the best sprinters of his era but was never in contention for the points classification because he was unwilling to make it through the mountain stages and finish the race (however, he did finish the Giro d'Italia and won its points classification several times).
Current situation
Like all classification jerseys in the Tour, the green jersey is made by American sportswear giant Nike. It has been sponsored by PMU, the French national parimutuel betting scheme, since 1991.
Riders can lose points for various infractions to the rules, which means some riders finish the Tour with a negative points tally.[2]
Currently, the points classification is calculated by adding up the points collected in the stage and subtracting penalty points. Points are rewarded for the first cyclists to cross the finish-line or the intermediate sprint line, and for the cyclists with the fastest times in the prologue or individual time trials, according to the following scheme.[3]
Type 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 
"flat" stage finish 45 35 30 26 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 
"medium mountain" stage finish 30 25 22 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 
"high mountain" stage finish 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 
prologue/individual time trial 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 intermediate sprint 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Prior to the 2011 tour, the scheme was as follows, with either two or three intermediate sprints each day[4]
Type 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th "flat" stage finish 35 30 26 24 22 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 "medium mountain" stage finish 25 22 20 18 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 "high mountain" stage finish 20 17 15 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 prologue/individual time trial 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 intermediate sprint 6 4 2 Before the start of the Tour de France, the organization declares which stages are considered "flat", "medium mountain" or "high mountain". Flat stages typically have few or no categorized climbs (several 4th category and an occasional 3rd category), medium mountain stages have numerous climbs, typically 2nd and 3rd category, and high mountain stages have numerous large climbs, often 1st category or hors categorie.
When the order in which cyclists crossed the line cannot be determined or when cyclists score exactly the same time in the prologue/individual time trial, the cyclists divide the points (rounded up to the nearest 1/2 point). A cyclist that does not finish a stage, is removed from the points classification. After every stage, the leader in the points classification is given a green jersey. In the event of a tie in the ranking, the cyclist with the most stage victories is the leader. If that is also a tie, the number of intermediate sprint victories indicates the leader. If that is also a tie, the general classification determines the leader. At the end of the Tour de France, the cyclist leading the points classification is the winner of the green jersey.
Winners
Repeat winners of the points classification
Rank Name Country Wins Years 1 Erik Zabel Germany6 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 2 Sean Kelly 
Ireland4 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989 3 Jan Janssen 
Netherlands3 1964, 1965, 1967 Eddy Merckx 
Belgium3 1969, 1971, 1972 Freddy Maertens Belgium3 1976, 1978, 1981 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov 
Uzbekistan3 1991, 1993, 1994 Robbie McEwen 
Australia3 2002, 2004, 2006 8 Stan Ockers Belgium2 1955, 1956 Jean Graczyk 
France2 1958, 1960 André Darrigade France2 1959, 1961 Laurent Jalabert France2 1992, 1995 Thor Hushovd 
Norway2 2005, 2009 Winners of the points classification by year
Winners by Nation
Rank Country Wins 1 Belgium19 2 France9 3 Germany8 4 Australia4 = Ireland4 = Netherlands4 7 Uzbekistan3 8 
Italy2 = Norway2 = 
Switzerland2 11 
Spain1 = United Kingdom1 References
- ^ Tour Xtra: Green Jersey
- ^ "Le Tour 101". cyclingnews.com. http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=features/FAQ. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- ^ "Regulations of the race". ASO/letour.fr. http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/COURSE/docs/reglement.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- ^ "Regulations of the race". ASO/letour.fr. http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/docs/reglement_2006_us.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
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General classification
(maillot jaune)
Points classification
(maillot vert)
Mountains classification
(maillot à pois)
Young rider classification
(maillot blanc)
Team classification
(classement d'équipes)
Combativity award
(prix de combativité)
Defunct jerseys:
Combination classification (maillot du combiné) • 
Intermediate sprints classification (maillot rouge)Categories:
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