The Tour de France Climber’s classification is a secondary competition after the General Classification, similar to the Points Classification and Young Rider Classification. The Climber’s classification has been around since 1933 but it wasn’t until 1975 that the leader wears the polka dot jersey.
It’s widely referred to as the King of Mountain, Polka Dot jersey (maillot à pois rouges), or Mountains Classification.
Points are awarded for up to the first eight riders who were first on top of each categorized climb. The climbs in the Tour de France are categorized depending on their gradient and length.
It starts from Category 4 (least steep) to Category 3, Category 2, Category 1, and Hors Catégorie. It’s up to the organizers to determine the category. Hors Catégorie climbs have more points on offer and sometimes there are double points offered such as in stage 17 at Méribel Col de la Loze in 2020.
The rider with the most cumulative points will wear the polka dot jersey from Stage 2 to 21.
Multiple Tour de France Climber’s Classification winners
Since its inception in 1933, there are 16 riders won the Climber’s classification more than once. The last rider who won twice was Tadej Pogačar in 2021 where he also won the General Classification and Young Rider classification.
Although the Tour de France features many mountainous terrains, the rider who wins the General Classification doesn’t often win the Climber’s classification. This often boils down to the race tactics and the strength of the riders and teams.
More reading : Tour de France Team Classification Winners
For example, in recent years, the General Classification contenders are happy to allow riders to go in the breakaway to collect the Climber’s classification points while they battle out among themselves on the last climbs.
There are only 12 years where the same rider won both the Climber and General Classification.
- Tadej Pogačar (2020, 2021)
- Chris Froome (2015)
- Carlos Sastre (2008)
- Eddy Merckx (1969)
- Federico Bahamontes (1959)
- Fausto Coppi (1949, 1952)
- Sylvère Maes (1939)
- Gino Bartali (1938, 1948)
Winner | Nationality | Wins | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Richard Virenque | France | 7 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 |
Federico Bahamontes | Spain | 6 | 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
Lucien Van Impe | Belgium | 6 | 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983 |
Julio Jiménez | Spain | 3 | 1965, 1966, 1967 |
Félicien Vervaecke | Belgium | 2 | 1935, 1937 |
Gino Bartali | Italy | 2 | 1938, 1948 |
Fausto Coppi | Italy | 2 | 1949, 1952 |
Charly Gaul | Luxembourg | 2 | 1955, 1956 |
Imerio Massignan | Italy | 2 | 1960, 1961 |
Eddy Merckx | Belgium | 2 | 1969, 1970 |
Luis Herrera | Colombia | 2 | 1985, 1987 |
Claudio Chiappucci | Italy | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
Laurent Jalabert | France | 2 | 2001, 2002 |
Michael Rasmussen | Denmark | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
Rafał Majka | Poland | 2 | 2014, 2016 |
Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
Most Tour de France Climber’s Classification wins by nationality
French riders are the most successful in the Climber’s Classification with 23 wins with 16 different riders. The last win was by Romain Bardet in 2019.
Only 12 nationalities have won the Climber’s Classification in 82 editions. With the exception of Switzerland, all other nationalities have won at least once.
Wins | Country | Last winner | Year |
---|---|---|---|
23 | France | Romain Bardet | 2019 |
18 | Spain | Samuel Sánchez | 2011 |
12 | Italy | Claudio Chiappucci | 1992 |
11 | Belgium | Lucien Van Impe | 1983 |
5 | Colombia | Nairo Quintana | 2013 |
2 | United Kingdom | Chris Froome | 2015 |
2 | Denmark | Michael Rasmussen | 2006 |
2 | Luxembourg | Charly Gaul | 1956 |
2 | Netherlands | Gert-Jan Theunisse | 1989 |
2 | Poland | Rafał Majka | 2016 |
2 | Slovenia | Tadej Pogačar | 2021 |
1 | Switzerland | Tony Rominger | 1993 |
List Tour de France Climber’s Classification winners, 1933 to present
Year | Winner | Nationality |
---|---|---|
1933 | Vicente Trueba | Spain |
1934 | René Vietto | France |
1935 | Félicien Vervaecke | Belgium |
1936 | Julián Berrendero | Spain |
1937 | Félicien Vervaecke | Belgium |
1938 | Gino Bartali | Italy |
1939 | Sylvère Maes | Belgium |
1947 | Pierre Brambilla | Italy |
1948 | Gino Bartali | Italy |
1949 | Fausto Coppi | Italy |
1950 | Louison Bobet | France |
1951 | Raphaël Géminiani | France |
1952 | Fausto Coppi | Italy |
1953 | Jesús Loroño | Spain |
1954 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1955 | Charly Gaul | Luxembourg |
1956 | Charly Gaul | Luxembourg |
1957 | Gastone Nencini | Italy |
1958 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1959 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1960 | Imerio Massignan | Italy |
1961 | Imerio Massignan | Italy |
1962 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1963 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1964 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
1965 | Julio Jiménez | Spain |
1966 | Julio Jiménez | Spain |
1967 | Julio Jiménez | Spain |
1968 | Aurelio González Puente | Spain |
1969 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium |
1970 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium |
1971 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1972 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1973 | Pedro Torres | Spain |
1974 | Domingo Perurena | Spain |
1975 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1976 | Giancarlo Bellini | Italy |
1977 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1978 | Mariano Martínez | France |
1979 | Giovanni Battaglin | Italy |
1980 | Raymond Martin | France |
1981 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1982 | Bernard Vallet | France |
1983 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium |
1984 | Robert Millar | United Kingdom |
1985 | Luis Herrera | Colombia |
1986 | Bernard Hinault | France |
1987 | Luis Herrera | Colombia |
1988 | Steven Rooks | Netherlands |
1989 | Gert-Jan Theunisse | Netherlands |
1990 | Thierry Claveyrolat | France |
1991 | Claudio Chiappucci | Italy |
1992 | Claudio Chiappucci | Italy |
1993 | Tony Rominger | Switzerland |
1994 | Richard Virenque | France |
1995 | Richard Virenque | France |
1996 | Richard Virenque | France |
1997 | Richard Virenque | France |
1998 | Christophe Rinero | France |
1999 | Richard Virenque | France |
2000 | Santiago Botero | Colombia |
2001 | Laurent Jalabert | France |
2002 | Laurent Jalabert | France |
2003 | Richard Virenque | France |
2004 | Richard Virenque | France |
2005 | Michael Rasmussen | Denmark |
2006 | Michael Rasmussen | Denmark |
2007 | Mauricio Soler | Colombia |
2008 | Carlos Sastre | Spain |
2009 | Egoi Martínez | Spain |
2010 | Anthony Charteau | France |
2011 | Samuel Sánchez | Spain |
2012 | Thomas Voeckler | France |
2013 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia |
2014 | Rafał Majka | Poland |
2015 | Chris Froome | United Kingdom |
2016 | Rafał Majka | Poland |
2017 | Warren Barguil | France |
2018 | Julian Alaphilippe | France |
2019 | Romain Bardet | France |
2020 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |
2021 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |