Points classification in the Vuelta a España explained

Green Jersey
Sport:	Road Cycling
Competition:	Vuelta a España
Givenfor:	Winner of the points classification
Localnames:	Maillot verde
First:	1945
Number:	70 (as of 2023)
Mostwins:	(4 wins each)

The points classification in the Vuelta a España is a secondary classification in the Vuelta a España, in which the cyclists are ranked in a points classification, based on the finish of each rider every stage.

History

For the first time, a points classification was calculated in 1945, sponsored by Pirelli. It was calculated as follows:^[1]

• The winner of a stage received 100 points, the second 99, and so on. If cyclists arrived in a group that was given the same time, they all received the same number of points.
• The first five cyclists in a stage received 12 points for every minute that they arrived ahead of the number six of the stage.
• For every point scored for the mountains classification, two points were given for this points classification.
• On intermediate sprints, points could be won: 8 for the winner, 6 for the second, 4 and 2 for the next.

Although the sponsor said that the classification was a great success,^[2] it did not return the next edition.

The next time that a points classification was calculated, was in 1955. Then it used the method of adding the stage ranks, in the same way as the points classification in the Tour de France did then; just like in the Tour de France, the leader of the points classification (with the fewest points) wore a green jersey. In 1963, the points system changed such that from now on points were given to the first cyclists to reach the finish, and the cyclist with the most points was the leader.

Seán Kelly, Laurent Jalabert and Alejandro Valverde, with 4 titles each, share the record of victories.

System in use up to 2020

Type	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
Stage finish	25	20	16	14	12	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Intermediate sprint	4	3	2

The Vuelta used to award an equal number of points on all stages for stage finishes.^[3] Except for time trials, stages also had one or more intermediate sprints offering points. This system paired with the high number of summit finishes at the Vuelta means there is a correlation between the overall classification and the points jersey. A good example from 2012, when sprinter John Degenkolb won five stages but only finished fourth in the points competition with Alejandro Valverde well ahead.

Current system

In 2021, the Vuelta switched to a system that awarded more points for finishes of flat stages.^[4] This is more in keeping with how the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia point classifications work.

All stages, other than time trial stages, have just one intermediate sprint.

Type	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
Stage finish (Flat stage)	50	30	20	18	16	14	12	10	8	7	6	5	4	3	2
Stage finish (Medium Mountain stage)	30	25	22	19	17	15	13	11	9	7	6	5	4	3	2
Stage finish (Hard Mountain stage and Time Trials)	20	17	15	13	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Intermediate sprint	20	17	15	13	10

Rules^[5]

Winners of the points classification by year

Year	Winner	Points	Second place	Points	Third place	Points	Ref(s)
		2347		2021		1967
1946–1948: No points classification
1949: Race not held
1950: No points classification
1951–1954: Race not held
		128		161		177	^[6]
		98		187		231	^[7]
		160		173		217	^[8]
		202		264		265	^[9]
		148		179		253	^[10]
1960		189		214		239	^[11]
		194		199		201	^[12]
		143.5		256		281	^[13]
		130		105		102	^[14]
1964		167		107		76	^[15]
		243		195		191	^[16]
		147		142		105	^[17]
		209		171		159	^[18]
		142		125		122	^[19]
		188		171		118	^[20]
		199.5		197		172	^[21]
1971		233					^[22]
1972		224		126		114	^[23]
		215.5		162		154	^[24]
		210		186		159	^[25]
		249.5		188		160	^[26]
		174.5		174		171	^[27]
		369		173		131	^[28]
		218		157		130	^[29]
		219		173		139	^[30]
		313		144		116	^[31]
		211		137		134	^[32]
		172		133		128	^[33]
		188		162		149	^[34]
1984		204		168		138	^[35]
1985		223		132		100	^[36]
1986		253		197		129	^[37]
1987		149		104		104	^[38]
1988		248		166		138	^[39]
1989		161		139		139	^[40]
1990		173		96		91	^[41]
1991		169		134		116	^[42]
1992		157		137		129	^[43]
1993		247		188		170	^[44]
1994		243		227		121	^[45]
1995		312		195		178	^[46]
1996		237		163		142	^[47]
1997		206		161		139	^[48]
1998		206		158		127	^[49]
1999		129		123		122	^[50]
2000		136		123		116	^[51]
2001		130		125		115	^[52]
2002		188		163		151	^[53]
2003		181		161		160	^[54]
2004		152		144		142	^[55]
2005		169		142		124	^[56]
2006		199		163		147	^[57]
2007		147		135		127	^[58]
2008		158		137		129	^[59]
2009		150		111		101	^[60]
2010		156		149		119	^[61]
2011		122		115		101	^[62]
2012		199		193		161
2013		152		126		125
2014		169		146		145
2015		118		116		108
2016		100		97		93
2017		158		156		128
2018		131		119		105
2019		155		136		134
2020		204		133		111
2021		250		199		161
2022		409		186		138
2023		315		236		167

Multiple winners

Wins	Rider	Editions
		1980, 1985, 1986, 1988
		1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
		2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
		2002, 2003, 2004
		1959, 1965
		1967, 1968
		1990, 1991
		2019, 2020

Notes and References

1. News: 25000 pesetas de la Case Pirelli para la Vuelta Ciclista a España. es. 22 March 1945. 9 May 2014. El Mundo Deportivo. 1.
2. News: V Vuelta Ciclista a España Pirelli. es. 22 March 1945. 9 May 2014. El Mundo Deportivo. 1.
3. Web site: Vuelta 2020: Points Classification . 20 October 2020 . www.cyclingstage.com . 27 August 2022.
4. Web site: Vuelta 2021: Points Classification . 14 August 2021 . www.cyclingstage.com . 27 August 2022.
5. Web site: Regulations for 2022 Vuelta . ASO . 27 August 2022.
6. Web site: Edición del Monday 9 May 1955, Página 8 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
7. Web site: Edición del Monday 14 May 1956, Página 8 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
8. Web site: Edición del Monday 13 May 1957, Página 8 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
9. Web site: Edición del Friday 16 May 1958, Página 4 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
10. Web site: Edición del Monday 11 May 1959, Página 9 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
11. Web site: Edición del Monday 16 May 1960, Página 9 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
12. Web site: Edición del Friday 12 May 1961, Página 9 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
13. Web site: Edición del Monday 14 May 1962, Página 9 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
14. Web site: Edición del Thursday 16 May 1963, Página 8 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
15. Web site: Edición del Sunday 17 May 1964, Página 8 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
16. Web site: Edición del Monday 17 May 1965, Página 12 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
17. Web site: 21st Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
18. Web site: 22nd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
19. Web site: 23rd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
20. Web site: Edición del Monday 12 May 1969, Página 27 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com.
21. Web site: 25th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
22. Web site: 26th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
23. Web site: 27th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
24. Web site: 28th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
25. Web site: 29th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
26. Web site: 30th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 28 August 2022.
27. Web site: 31st Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
28. Web site: 32nd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
29. Web site: 33rd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
30. Web site: 34th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
31. Web site: 35th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
32. Web site: 36th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
33. Web site: 37th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
34. Web site: 38th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
35. Web site: 39th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
36. Web site: 40th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
37. Web site: 41st Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
38. Web site: 42nd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
39. Web site: 43rd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
40. Web site: 44th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
41. Web site: 45th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
42. Web site: 46th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
43. Web site: 47th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
44. Web site: 48th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
45. Web site: 49th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
46. Web site: 50th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
47. Web site: 51st Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
48. Web site: 52nd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
49. Web site: 53rd Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
50. Web site: 54th Vuelta a España points classification. procyclingstats. 27 August 2022.
51. Web site: Vuelta a España 2000 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
52. Web site: Vuelta a España 2001 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
53. Web site: Vuelta a España 2002 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
54. Web site: Vuelta a España 2003 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
55. Web site: Vuelta a España 2004 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
56. Web site: Vuelta a España 2005 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
57. Web site: Vuelta a España 2006 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
58. Web site: Vuelta a España 2007 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
59. Web site: Official Web Site Vuelta a España 2009 – History / 2008 . LaVuelta.com . 12 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402104306/http://ww0.lavuelta.com/09/ingles/historia/index.html?a=2008&e=d1 . 2 April 2012 . dead .
60. Web site: Vuelta a España 2009 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
61. Web site: Vuelta a España 2010 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.
62. Web site: Vuelta a España 2011 – Points classification . Cycling Archives . 12 September 2011.