King of the Mountains
Encyclopedia
The King of the Mountains (KoM) is the title given to the best climber in a cycling
road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification. For women's cycle racing, a similar term, Queen of the Mountains (QoM) is used.
While the title may be given to the rider who achieves the highest position over several designated climbs in a single-day road race, it is more usually applied to stage races (for example, the Grand Tours, Tour de France
, Giro d'Italia
, Vuelta a España
and smaller races like the Tour of California) where points are accumulated over the duration of the whole race.
In the Tour de France, at the top of each significant climb, points are awarded to the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are categorised from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors categorie
(outside category) applies to mountains rated even more severe than first category. Similar ratings apply to climbs in the other major Tours.
In the Tour de France, the leader in the mountains competition wears a distinctive polka dot jersey
(French: maillot à pois rouge). Although the King of the Mountains was first recognised in the 1933 Tour de France, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975; in the Giro the King of the Mountains leader wears a green jersey
. In the Vuelta several jersey designs have been used, but since 2010 it has been white with blue polka dots
.
Two riders have won the "King of the Mountains" in the Tour de France six times: Federico Bahamontes
(Spain
) and Lucien Van Impe
(Belgium
), while Richard Virenque
(France
) holds the record with seven wins. Gino Bartali
holds the record for the Giro d'Italia, also with seven wins, while José Luis Laguía
has won the Vuelta equivalent five times.
No rider has won the "King of the Mountains" in all three Grand Tours
in the same year. In fact, only two riders, Federico Bahamontes
and Luis Herrera
, have won all three competitions in different years. Ten riders have achieved doubles.
The Tour/Giro double has been achieved by four riders:
The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by two riders:
The Tour/Vuelta double has also been achieved by four riders:
Notes
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification. For women's cycle racing, a similar term, Queen of the Mountains (QoM) is used.
While the title may be given to the rider who achieves the highest position over several designated climbs in a single-day road race, it is more usually applied to stage races (for example, the Grand Tours, Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
and smaller races like the Tour of California) where points are accumulated over the duration of the whole race.
In the Tour de France, at the top of each significant climb, points are awarded to the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are categorised from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors categorie
Hors Categorie
Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 to Category 4 , based on both steepness and length...
(outside category) applies to mountains rated even more severe than first category. Similar ratings apply to climbs in the other major Tours.
In the Tour de France, the leader in the mountains competition wears a distinctive polka dot jersey
Polka dot jersey
The Mountains classification in the Tour de France is a secondary classification in the Tour de France, in which cyclists receive points for reaching a mountain top first...
(French: maillot à pois rouge). Although the King of the Mountains was first recognised in the 1933 Tour de France, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975; in the Giro the King of the Mountains leader wears a green jersey
Green jersey
The green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
. In the Vuelta several jersey designs have been used, but since 2010 it has been white with blue polka dots
Mountains classification in the Vuelta a España
The mountains classification in the Vuelta a España is a secondary classification in the Vuelta a España. For this classification, points are given to the cyclists who cross the mountain peaks first. The classification was established in 1935, when it was won by Italian Edoardo Molinar, and until...
.
Two riders have won the "King of the Mountains" in the Tour de France six times: Federico Bahamontes
Federico Bahamontes
Federico Martín Bahamontes is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bahamontes was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla , of Cuban descent. His family was devastated during the Spanish civil war and Bahamontes' father, Julián, took the family to Madrid as refugees...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) and Lucien Van Impe
Lucien Van Impe
Lucien van Impe was a Belgian cyclist from 1969 to 1987. He excelled mainly as a climber in multiple-day races such as the Tour de France...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
), while Richard Virenque
Richard Virenque
Richard VirenqueRichard Virenque's name is pronounced Ree-shah Vee-rahnk. Virenque considers himself a man of the South but pronounces his name in standard French. Confusion is caused by the southern habit of pronouncing "en" as "ang" or "eng", making it Vee-rank. But Virenque says Vee-rahnk or...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) holds the record with seven wins. Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
holds the record for the Giro d'Italia, also with seven wins, while José Luis Laguía
José Luis Laguía
José Luis Laguía Martínez is a retired Spanish cyclist. A climber, he won a record five mountains classifications at the Vuelta a España during his career.-References:* at Cycling Archives**...
has won the Vuelta equivalent five times.
No rider has won the "King of the Mountains" in all three Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
in the same year. In fact, only two riders, Federico Bahamontes
Federico Bahamontes
Federico Martín Bahamontes is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bahamontes was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla , of Cuban descent. His family was devastated during the Spanish civil war and Bahamontes' father, Julián, took the family to Madrid as refugees...
and Luis Herrera
Luis Herrera
Luis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera known as "el jardinerito" is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist...
, have won all three competitions in different years. Ten riders have achieved doubles.
The Tour/Giro double has been achieved by four riders:
- Fausto CoppiFausto CoppiAngelo Fausto Coppi, , was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions...
(1949) - Charly GaulCharly GaulCharly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
(1956) - Lucien Van ImpeLucien Van ImpeLucien van Impe was a Belgian cyclist from 1969 to 1987. He excelled mainly as a climber in multiple-day races such as the Tour de France...
(1983) - Claudio ChiappucciClaudio ChiappucciClaudio Chiappucci is a retired Italian professional cyclist. He was on the podium three times in the Tour de France general classification - second in 1990, third in 1991 and second again in 1992.-Career:...
(1992)
The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by two riders:
- Manuel Fuente (1972)
- Andrés OlivaAndrés OlivaAndrés Oliva was a former Spanish professional cyclist. Oliva was a great climber, so he ended up winning multiple Mountains Classifications. He won the Mountains Classification at the 1975 Giro d'Italia and the 1976 Giro d'Italia. Those were the only two years that Oliva raced the Giro d'Italia...
(1975, 1976)
The Tour/Vuelta double has also been achieved by four riders:
- Federico BahamontesFederico BahamontesFederico Martín Bahamontes is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bahamontes was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla , of Cuban descent. His family was devastated during the Spanish civil war and Bahamontes' father, Julián, took the family to Madrid as refugees...
(1958) - Julio Jiminez (1965)
- Luis HerreraLuis HerreraLuis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera known as "el jardinerito" is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist...
(1987) - Tony RomingerTony RomingerTony Rominger is a Swiss former professional road racing cyclist who won the Vuelta a España in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Giro d'Italia in 1995.He began cycling late, allegedly spurred by competition with his brother...
(1993)
Most Wins (Grand Tours)
- 9: Federico Bahamontes - (Spain)
- Tour de France (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964)
- Giro d'Italia (1956)
- Vuelta a Espana (1957, 1958)
- 9: Gino Bartali - (Italy)
- Tour de France (1938, 1948)
- Giro d'Italia (1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947)
- 8: Lucien Van Impe - (Belgium)
- Tour de France (1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983)
- Giro d'Italia (1982, 1983)
Winners in grand tours by year
| Year | Tour de France | Giro d'Italia Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage... |
Vuelta a España Mountains classification in the Vuelta a España The mountains classification in the Vuelta a España is a secondary classification in the Vuelta a España. For this classification, points are given to the cyclists who cross the mountain peaks first. The classification was established in 1935, when it was won by Italian Edoardo Molinar, and until... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 2009 | NoneFranco Pellizotti Franco Pellizotti Franco Pellizotti is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently suspended from the sport.... 's results have been removed, after his biological passport indicated irregular values, but the classification has not been remade yet. Egoi Martínez Egoi Martínez Egoi Martínez de Esteban is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi. In his first Tour de France, Martínez finished 41st overall at the 2004 Tour de France.... was ranked second. |
||
| 2008 | NoneThe competition was originally won by Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl Bernhard Kohl thumb|Bernhard Kohl wears the polka dot jersey of theTour the France at the city centre criterium inWels on 30 July 2008Bernhard Kohl is an Austrian former professional road bicycle racer and recognized climbing specialist... , but after his positive test for and admission to the use of doping, his results have been removed and are considered vacancies in the Tour's record book. Official history of the Tour, see pages 117 and 123 |
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| 1954 | Race not held | ||
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Notes