View source for Mountains classification in the Tour de France

{{short description|Secondary competition in the Tour de France}}
{{Redirect|Polka dot jersey|the jersey awarded in the Vuelta a España|Mountains classification in the Vuelta a España}}
{{Infobox sports award
| name          = Polka dot jersey
| current_event =
| image         = Tour de France 20130704 Aix-en-Provence 076.jpg
| caption       = The [[2013 Tour de France|2013]] polka dot [[Cycling jersey|jersey]], worn by [[Pierre Rolland (cyclist)|Pierre Rolland]]
| sport         = [[Road bicycle racing]]
| competition   = [[Tour de France]]
| discipline    = 
| givenfor      = Best climber
| english       = 
| localnames    = {{native name|fr|Maillot à pois rouges|nolink=on}}
| nickname      = 
| first         = [[1933 Tour de France|1933]] (jersey since [[1975 Tour de France|1975]])
| number        = 85 (as of [[2024 Tour de France|2024]])
| firstwinner   = {{flagathlete|[[Vicente Trueba]]|ESP|1931}}
| mostwins      = {{flagathlete|[[Richard Virenque]]|FRA}}
:''7 wins''
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[Richard Carapaz]]|ECU}}
}}
The '''mountains classification''' is a secondary competition in the [[Tour de France]], that started in [[1933 Tour de France|1933]]. It is given to the rider that gains the most points for reaching mountain summits first. The leader of the classification is named the '''[[King of the Mountains]]''', and since [[1975 Tour de France|1975]] wears the '''polka dot jersey''' ({{langx|fr|maillot à pois rouges}}), a white jersey with red [[polka dots]].

==History==
[[File:Van der Poel and Schelling.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Ide Schelling]] in the 2021 polka dot jersey]]
The first Tour de France crossed no mountain passes, but several lesser [[col]]s. The first was the col des Echarmeaux ({{convert|712|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}), on the opening stage from Paris to Lyon, on what is now the old road from Autun to Lyon. The stage from Lyon to Marseille included the [[col de la République]] ({{convert|1161|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}), also known as the col du Grand Bois, at the edge of St-Etienne. The first major climb—the [[col du Ballon d'Alsace|Ballon d'Alsace]] ({{convert|1178|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}) in the [[Vosges]]{{sfn|Woodland|2000|p=38}}&nbsp;— was featured in the 1905 race.

True mountains were not included until the [[Pyrenees]] in [[1910 Tour de France|1910]]. In that year the race rode, or more walked{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}, first the [[col d'Aubisque]] and then the nearby [[Col du Tourmalet|Tourmalet]]. Both climbs were mule tracks, a demanding challenge on heavy, ungeared bikes ridden by men with spare tires around their shoulders and their food, clothing and tools in bags hung from their handlebars. The assistant organiser, Victor Breyer, stood at the summit of the Aubisque with the colleague who had proposed including the Pyrenees, Alphonse Steinès.{{sfn|McGann|McGann|2006|p=29}} The tour organiser, [[Henri Desgrange]] was confident enough after the Pyrenees to include the [[Alps]] in 1911.{{sfn|Woodland|2000|p=43}}

The highest climb in the race was the [[Cime de la Bonette-Restefond]] in the [[1962 Tour de France]], reaching 2802 m.{{sfn|Woodland|2007|p=273}} The highest mountain finish in the Tour was at the [[Col du Galibier]] in the [[2011 Tour de France|2011 edition]].<ref>[http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/COURSE/us/le_galibier.html Tour de France 2011—The Galibier 1911–2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720075914/http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/COURSE/us/le_galibier.html |date=2011-07-20 }}. Letour.fr (10 July 1911). Retrieved 23 February 2011.</ref>

Since 1905, the organising newspaper ''l'Auto'' named one cyclist of the Tour de France the ''meilleur grimpeur'' (best climber).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wielerarchieven.be/forum/showthread.php?t=3067|title=Tour - WielerArchieven|access-date=2009-07-10|archive-date=2014-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503013007/http://www.wielerarchieven.be/forum/showthread.php?t=3067|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1933, [[Vicente Trueba]] was the winner of this classification. In order to recognize climbers, the Tour de France director, [[Henri Desgrange]], decided that cyclists should receive a bonus for reaching the tops first. From 1934 on, the gap between the first and the second cyclist to reach the top was given as a time bonus to the one reaching the top first. These time bonuses were later removed, but the King of the Mountain recognition remained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvccbike.com/tour/eddy/xtra_bestanden/polkadot.htm|title=Tour Xtra: Polka Dot Jersey|access-date=2009-09-28|archive-date=2013-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613063807/http://www.cvccbike.com/tour/eddy/xtra_bestanden/polkadot.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the best climber was first recognised in 1933, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975, as the sponsor, [[Chocolat Poulain]], wanted to enhance the visibility of the jersey in the peloton.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-13 |title=Tour de France 2023 : pourquoi le maillot du meilleur grimpeur est blanc à pois rouges |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/le-scan-sport/le-saviez-vous/2015/07/13/27006-20150713ARTFIG00262-pourquoi-le-maillot-du-meilleur-grimpeur-est-blanc-a-pois-rouges.php |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref> The Tour's organizer [[Félix Lévitan]] decided to use the jersey used by the cyclist [[Henri Lemoine (cyclist)|Henri Lemoine]] as a tribute to him. As a consequence, the sponsor, [[Chocolat Poulain]], decided to change its wrappings of chocolate bars and covered them in a polka dot wrapper.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tour Xtra: Polka Dot Jersey |url=http://www.cvccbike.com/tour/eddy/xtra_bestanden/polkadot.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2009-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613063807/http://www.cvccbike.com/tour/eddy/xtra_bestanden/polkadot.htm |archive-date=2013-06-13}}</ref>  

The first rider to ever wear the Polka Dot Jersey, during the [[1975 Tour de France]], was [[Joop Zoetemelk]], and while he never won the King of the Mountains competition in the Tour De France he is considered to be one of the greatest climbers in Tour de France history.{{fact|date=August 2018}} Zoetemelk did win the mountains classification in the [[1971 Vuelta a España]], as well as the general classification in the [[1979 Vuelta a España]] and the [[1980 Tour de France]].

=== Sponsorship ===
The polka dots originate from sponsor [[Chocolat Poulain]]. Between 1993 and 2018, the jersey was sponsored by [[Carrefour]] supermarkets, initially under the [[Champion (supermarket)|Champion]] brand, and later under the main Carrefour brand from the 2009 edition of the Tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vergouwen |first=Thomas |date=23 April 2009 |title=For Carrefour the Tour already started! |url=https://www.velowire.com/article/174/en/for-carrefour-the-tour-already-started-.html |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=velowire.com}}</ref> Since 2019, the jersey is sponsored by [[E.Leclerc]] supermarkets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gary |date=2018-09-18 |title=E.Leclerc takes on polka-dot jersey sponsorship at Le Tour |url=https://endurance.biz/2018/industry-news/e-leclerc-takes-on-polka-dot-jersey-sponsorship-at-le-tour/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=endurance.biz |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Jerseys ranking ===
The polka dot jersey is the third most important jersey in the Tour de France, third to yellow and green jerseys.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2023 |title=Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS |url=https://storage-aso.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf23-reglement-fr-uk.pdf |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=Letour.fr |quote=There is an established order of priority for the different leaders’ jerseys: the yellow jersey, followed by the green jersey, then the red polka-dot jersey and finally the white jersey}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/3zdJc5antr1dA3GYeDKdBu/bef82a9d7336e9b798c364066db92581/2-ROA-20230613-E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630175541/https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/3zdJc5antr1dA3GYeDKdBu/bef82a9d7336e9b798c364066db92581/2-ROA-20230613-E.pdf |archive-date=2023-06-30 |access-date=2023-07-24 |quote=2.6.018 - [...] If a rider is leading more than one classification, the order of priority of the distinctive jerseys shall be as follows: 1. general classification by time; 2. general classification by points; 3. general climber's classification; 4. others (young rider, combined, etc.); the order of priority among these other jerseys shall be set by the organiser.}}</ref> If a rider is the leader in the general and/or points classifications and in the mountain classification he will wear the yellow or green jersey. The second rider (or the following eligible rider) in the mountain classification will wear polka dot jersey with some exceptions:

* If the second rider also ''leads'' the young rider classification, he will wear the white jersey (for example if ''rider A'' is first in both the general and mountain classification and ''rider'' ''B'' is second in the mountain classification but also the leader in young rider classification, then ''rider A'' will wear the yellow jersey and ''rider B'' will wear the white jersey);<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2023 |title=Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS |url=https://storage-aso.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf23-reglement-fr-uk.pdf |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=Letour.fr |quote=When a rider is leading several classifications, he naturally only wears one jersey: the one designated by the order of priority. The other jerseys are then worn by the riders lying 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the corresponding classification}}</ref>
* If the second rider is [[UCI World Championships|world champion]] he will wear the [[rainbow jersey]]. If the rider is a continental champion or [[National road cycling championships|national champion]] he will wear the corresponding jersey;<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2023 |title=Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS |url=https://storage-aso.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf23-reglement-fr-uk.pdf |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=Letour.fr |quote=However, if this rider is required to wear  his world, continental or national champion’s jersey, then he will  wear this jersey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/3zdJc5antr1dA3GYeDKdBu/bef82a9d7336e9b798c364066db92581/2-ROA-20230613-E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630175541/https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/3zdJc5antr1dA3GYeDKdBu/bef82a9d7336e9b798c364066db92581/2-ROA-20230613-E.pdf |archive-date=2023-06-30 |access-date=2023-07-24 |quote=2.6.018 - [...] In this situation, the organiser may require another rider next on the relevant classification to wear a jersey which is not being worn by the leader of that classification. However, if this rider must wear his world or national champion's jersey, or the leader's jersey of a UCI cup, circuit, series or classification, he shall wear that jersey.}}</ref>

In both case the third rider (or the following eligible rider) will be in polka dot jersey.

==Current situation==
At the top of many climbs in the Tour, there are points for the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are divided into categories from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their difficulty, measured as a function of their steepness, length, location within the stage (near the start or end), and location in the overall race (early in the race or toward the end). A few of the toughest climbs were originally given different individual points scales, and were thus listed as "uncategorised" (''Hors catégorie'', a term that has since passed into the French language to refer to any exceptional phenomenon); however, since the 1980s, the ''[[hors catégorie]]'' climbs have been merged into the single scale and have effectively become, despite the name, just a top category above category 1. In 2004, the scoring system was changed such that the first rider over a fourth category climb would be awarded 3 points while the first to complete a ''hors catégorie'' climb would be awarded 20 points. Further points over a fourth category climb are only for the top three places while on a ''hors catégorie'' climb the top ten riders are rewarded. From 2004 to 2021, points scored on the final climb of the day were doubled where that climb was at least a second category climb.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/docs/reglement_2006_us.pdf|title=Regulations of the race|publisher=ASA/letour.fr|access-date=2009-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705025939/http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/docs/reglement_2006_us.pdf|archive-date=2006-07-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022 and 2023, mountain-top finishes were worth the same number of points as any other climb.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Banqueri |first1=Raul |title=The Ultimate Guide to the Tour de France 2022 King of the Monutains Competition |url=https://lanternerouge.com/2022/07/01/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-tour-de-france-2022-king-of-the-mountains-competition/ |website=Lantern Rouge |publisher=Lanterne Rouge Media, SL |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>

===Distribution of points===
The points gained by consecutive riders reaching a mountain top are distributed according to the following classification:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=20%}}
{| class="wikitable" text-align:center"
|+Point distribution grid in use since 2017<ref name="lequipe1">{{Cite web |url=https://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf20-reglement-fruk-bd.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-09-17 |archive-date=2020-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930035951/https://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_tdf/tdf20-reglement-fruk-bd.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! style="width:20%;"| Pos.
! style="width:16%;"| 4C
! style="width:16%;"| 3C
! style="width:16%;"| 2C
! style="width:16%;"| 1C
! style="width:16%;"| HC
|-
| 1st || 1 || 2 || 5 || 10 || 20
|-
| 2nd || || 1 || 3 || 8 || 15
|-
| 3rd || || || 2 || 6 || 12
|-
| 4th || || || 1 || 4 || 10
|-
| 5th || || || || 2 || 8
|-
| 6th || || || || 1 || 6
|-
| 7th || || || || || 4
|-
| 8th || || || || || 2
|}
{{col-end}}If two riders have an equal number of points, the rider with the most first places on the ''hors catégorie'' cols, is declared winner. If the riders arrived first an equal number of times, the first places on the 1st category cols are compared. Should the two riders again have an equal number of first arrivals in this category, the organization looks at mutual results in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th category, until a winner is found. If the number of first arrivals in all categories is equal for both riders, the rider with the highest position in the overall list of rankings receives the mountain jersey.

==== Double points ====
During the 2000s, the Tour de France organization decided to double the points awarded at the top of certain ascents: 

* between [[2004 Tour de France|2004]] and [[2010 Tour de France|2010]] editions, the last climb of the stage awarded double points if the climb is at last a 2nd category;
* between [[2011 Tour de France|2011]] and [[2016 Tour de France|2016]] editions happened the same but only if the last climb is also the finish line of the stage;
* between 2017 and 2021 and since 2023, points are doubled on some hors catégorie (also 1st category in 2018) chosen by the organizers:
** in [[2017 Tour de France|2017]], hors catégorie also stage finish (only one case) ;
** in [[2018 Tour de France|2018]], the last ascension, whether 1st category or hors catégorie, from which stage of the last massif traversed (3 stages in the Pyrenees);
** hors catégorie climbs higher than 2000 meters (5 climbs in [[2019 Tour de France|2019]], 1 in [[2020 Tour de France|2020]]);
** the last climb of the stage if the climb is hors catégorie (3 climbs in [[2021 Tour de France|2021]]);
** highest point in the Tour de France (1 climb in [[2023 Tour de France|2023]] and [[2024 Tour de France|2024]]).

For 2020, "Double points will be awarded at the top of passes or at the finish of stage 17 at Méribel Col de la Loze, the highest peak in the 2020 Tour (2,304 masl)".<ref name="lequipe1" /> The organisation of the race determines which mountains are included for the mountains classification and in which category they are

=== Past point distribution ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!9
!10
!11
!12
!13
!14
!15
|-
| rowspan="6" |'''2011-2016'''
|'''HC'''{{efn|between 2012 and 2016 editions}}
|25
|20
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|6
|4
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''HC'''{{efn|only 2011 edition}}
|20
|16
|12
|8
|4
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''1C'''
|10
|8
|6
|4
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|5
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C'''
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |'''2004-2010<ref name="mdc2004">{{cite web |title=91ème Tour de France 2004 |trans-title=91st Tour de France 2004 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf2004.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405234720/http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf2004.php |archive-date=5 April 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>'''<ref name="mdc2010">{{cite web |title=97ème Tour de France 2010 |trans-title=98th Tour de France 2010 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf2010.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>
|'''HC'''
|20
|18
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|7
|6
|5
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''1C'''
|15
|13
|11
|9
|8
|7
|6
|5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|10
|9
|8
|7
|6
|5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C'''
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="8" |'''1984-2003<ref name="mdc1984">{{cite web |title=71ème Tour de France 1984 |trans-title=71st Tour de France 1984 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1984.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>'''<ref name="mdc20032">{{cite web |title=90ème Tour de France 2003 |trans-title=90th Tour de France 2003 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf2003.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405234325/http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf2003.php |archive-date=5 April 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>
|'''HC'''
|40
|35
|30
|26
|22
|18
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|6
|4
|2
|1
|-
|'''1C'''
|30
|26
|22
|18
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|6
|4
|2
|1
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|20
|15
|12
|10
|8
|6
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C{{efn|between 1990 and 2003 editions}}'''
|10
|7
|5
|3
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C{{efn|between 1987 and 1989 editions}}'''
|7
|5
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C{{efn|between 1984 and 1986 editions}}'''
|7
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C{{efn|between 1990 and 2003 editions}}'''
|5
|3
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C{{efn|between 1984 and 1989 editions}}'''
|4
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |'''1979-1983''' <ref name="mdc2003">{{cite web |title=66ème Tour de France 1979 |trans-title=66ème Tour de France 1979 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1979.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103134039/https://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1979.php |archive-date=3 November 2023 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="mdc1983">{{cite web |title=70ème Tour de France 1983 |trans-title=70th Tour de France 1983 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1983.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>
|'''HC'''
|25
|20
|18
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|7
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|-
|'''1C'''
|20
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|15
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C{{efn|only 1983 edition}}'''
|7
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C{{efn|between 1979 and 1982 editions}}'''
|8
|6
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C{{efn|between 1980 and 1983 editions}}'''
|4
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C{{efn|only 1979 edition}}'''
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''1975-1978<ref name="mdc1975">{{cite web |title=62ème Tour de France 1975 |trans-title=62nd Tour de France 1975 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1975.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>'''<ref name="mdc1978">{{cite web |title=65ème Tour de France 1978 |trans-title=65th Tour de France 1978 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1978.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>
|'''1C'''
|20
|16
|14
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|15
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|8
|6
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C'''
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''1971-1974 <ref name="mdc1971">{{cite web |title=58ème Tour de France 1971 |trans-title=58th Tour de France 1971 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/eta_tdf/tdf1971.php |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="mdc1974">{{cite web |title=61ème Tour de France 1974 |url=http://memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1947_1977/tdf1974.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629200322/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1947_1977/tdf1974.php |archive-date=29 June 2012 |access-date=26 September 2016 |publisher=Mémoire du cyclisme |language=fr}}</ref>'''
|'''1C'''
|15
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|10
|8
|6
|4
|3
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C'''
|5
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''1962-1970'''
|'''1C'''
|15
|12
|10
|8
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|10
|8
|6
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''4C{{efn|no 4th category climbs in 1963}}'''
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''1949-1961'''
|'''1C'''
|10
|9
|8
|7
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''2C'''
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''3C'''
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''1947-1948'''
|'''A'''
|10
|9
|8
|7
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''B'''
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''1933-1939'''
|'''-'''
|10
|9
|8
|7
|6
|5
|4
|3
|2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|}
{{notelist}}

==Criticism of the system==
The system has faced criticism. Six-time winner [[Lucien Van Impe]] said in 2010 that the mountain jersey has been devalued, because it goes to cyclists who have no hope of winning the general classification and are therefore allowed to escape and gather points in breakaways by the general classification contenders. According to Van Impe, focusing on the mountain classification was started by cyclists such as [[Laurent Jalabert]] and [[Richard Virenque]], but compared to modern mountain classification specialists, "they could really climb, and they could win sprints on hors category climbs or even win the stage".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4981/Tour-de-France-Lucien-Van-Impe-criticises-polka-dot-mountains-jersey-classification.aspx|title=Tour de France: Lucien Van Impe criticises polka dot mountains jersey classification|author=Atkins, Ben|date=22 July 2010|access-date=23 July 2010|publisher=Velonation|archive-date=24 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724122405/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4981/Tour-de-France-Lucien-Van-Impe-criticises-polka-dot-mountains-jersey-classification.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022, the mountain classification winner also won the general classification.

==Winners==

===''Meilleurs grimpeurs (top climbers)''===
This list shows the cyclists who were chosen ''meilleur grimpeur'' by the newspaper ''L'Auto''. Although ''L'Auto'' was organising the Tour de France, the ''meilleur grimpeur'' title was not given by the tour organisation, so it is unofficial. However, it is a direct predecessor of the later King of the Mountains title.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wielerarchieven.be/forum/showthread.php?t=3067&page=3|title=Tour - Pagina 3 - WielerArchieven|access-date=2009-07-10|archive-date=2018-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916060331/https://www.wielerarchieven.be/forum/showthread.php?t=3067&page=3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tour-giro-vuelta.net/ |title=Tour-Giro-Vuelta<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2009-09-28 |archive-date=2009-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406025432/http://www.tour-giro-vuelta.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1905 Tour de France|1905]]|name={{sortname|René|Pottier||Pottier, Rene}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1906 Tour de France|1906]]|name={{sortname|René|Pottier||Pottier, Rene}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1907 Tour de France|1907]]|name={{sortname|Emile|Georget}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1908 Tour de France|1908]]|name={{sortname|Gustave|Garrigou}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1909 Tour de France|1909]]|name={{sortname|François|Faber||Faber, Francois}}|nat=LUX|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1910 Tour de France|1910]]|name={{sortname|Octave|Lapize}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1911 Tour de France|1911]]|name={{sortname|Paul|Duboc}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1912 Tour de France|1912]]|name={{sortname|Odiel|Defraeye}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1913 Tour de France|1913]]|name={{sortname|Philippe|Thys|Philippe Thys (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1914 Tour de France|1914]]|name={{sortname|Firmin|Lambot}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1919 Tour de France|1919]]|name={{sortname|Honoré|Barthélemy||Barthelemy, Honore}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1920 Tour de France|1920]]|name={{sortname|Firmin|Lambot}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1921 Tour de France|1921]]|name={{sortname|Hector|Heusghem}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1922 Tour de France|1922]]|name={{sortname|Jean|Alavoine}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1923 Tour de France|1923]]|name={{sortname|Henri|Pélissier||Pelissier, Henri}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1924 Tour de France|1924]]|name={{sortname|Ottavio|Bottecchia}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1925 Tour de France|1925]]|name={{sortname|Ottavio|Bottecchia}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1926 Tour de France|1926]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Buysse}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1927 Tour de France|1927]]|name={{sortname|Giovanni-Michele|Gordini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1928 Tour de France|1928]]|name={{sortname|Victor|Fontan}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1929 Tour de France|1929]]|name={{sortname|Victor|Fontan}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1930 Tour de France|1930]]|name={{sortname|Benoît|Fauré||Faure, Benoit}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1931 Tour de France|1931]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Demuysere}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1932 Tour de France|1932]]|name={{sortname|Vicente|Trueba}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1931|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===Mountains classification===
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1933 Tour de France|1933]]|name={{sortname|Vicente|Trueba}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1931|team=Touriste-routier}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1934 Tour de France|1934]]|name={{sortname|René|Vietto||Vietto, Rene}}|nat=FRA|team=France}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1935 Tour de France|1935]]|name={{sortname|Félicien|Vervaecke||Vervaecke, Felicien}}|nat=BEL|team=Belgium}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1936 Tour de France|1936]]|name={{sortname|Julián|Berrendero}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1931|team=Spain–Luxembourg}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1937 Tour de France|1937]]|name={{sortname|Félicien|Vervaecke||Vervaecke, Felicien}}|nat=BEL|team=Belgium}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1938 Tour de France|1938]]|name={{sortname|Gino|Bartali}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1939 Tour de France|1939]]|name={{sortname|Sylvère|Maes}}|nat=BEL|team=Belgium}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1947 Tour de France|1947]]|name={{sortname|Pierre|Brambilla}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1948 Tour de France|1948]]|name={{sortname|Gino|Bartali}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1949 Tour de France|1949]]|name={{sortname|Fausto|Coppi}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1950 Tour de France|1950]]|name={{sortname|Louison|Bobet}}|nat=FRA|team=France}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1951 Tour de France|1951]]|name={{sortname|Raphaël|Géminiani||Geminiani, Raphael}}|nat=FRA|team=France}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1952 Tour de France|1952]]|name={{sortname|Fausto|Coppi}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1953 Tour de France|1953]]|name={{sortname|Jesús|Loroño||Loroño, Jesus}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1954 Tour de France|1954]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1955 Tour de France|1955]]|name={{sortname|Charly|Gaul}}|nat=LUX|team=Luxembourg–Mixed}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1956 Tour de France|1956]]|name={{sortname|Charly|Gaul}}|nat=LUX|team=Luxembourg–Mixed}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1957 Tour de France|1957]]|name={{sortname|Gastone|Nencini}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1958 Tour de France|1958]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1959 Tour de France|1959]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1960 Tour de France|1960]]|name={{sortname|Imerio|Massignan}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1961 Tour de France|1961]]|name={{sortname|Imerio|Massignan}}|nat=ITA|team=Italy}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1962 Tour de France|1962]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|Margnat|1962}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1963 Tour de France|1963]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|Margnat|1963}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1964 Tour de France|1964]]|name={{sortname|Federico|Bahamontes}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|Margnat|1964}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1965 Tour de France|1965]]|name={{sortname|Julio|Jimenez|Julio Jiménez (cyclist)}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1965}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1966 Tour de France|1966]]|name={{sortname|Julio|Jimenez|Julio Jiménez (cyclist)}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|Ford France|1966}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1967 Tour de France|1967]]|name={{sortname|Julio|Jimenez|Julio Jiménez (cyclist)}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1968 Tour de France|1968]]|name={{sortname|Aurelio|Gonzalez|Aurelio González Puente}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=Spain}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1969 Tour de France|1969]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Faemino|1969}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1970 Tour de France|1970]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Faemino|1970}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1971 Tour de France|1971]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Sonolor|1971}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1972 Tour de France|1972]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Sonolor|1972}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1973 Tour de France|1973]]|name={{sortname|Pedro|Torres}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=[[La Casera–Peña Bahamontes]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1974 Tour de France|1974]]|name={{sortname|Domingo|Perurena}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1974}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1975 Tour de France|1975]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Gitane–Campagnolo|1975}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1976 Tour de France|1976]]|name={{sortname|Giancarlo|Bellini}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|Brooklyn|1976}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1977 Tour de France|1977]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team=[[Lejeune–BP]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1978 Tour de France|1978]]|name={{sortname|Mariano|Martínez|Mariano Martínez (cyclist)|Martinez, Mariano}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|Jobo|1978}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1979 Tour de France|1979]]|name={{sortname|Giovanni|Battaglin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1979}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1980 Tour de France|1980]]|name={{sortname|Raymond|Martin|Raymond Martin (cyclist)}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|Mercier|1980}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1981 Tour de France|1981]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Boston|1981}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1982 Tour de France|1982]]|name={{sortname|Bernard|Vallet}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|La Redoute|1982}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1983 Tour de France|1983]]|name={{sortname|Lucien|Van Impe}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Metauro Mobili|1983}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1984 Tour de France|1984]]|name={{sortname|Robert|Millar}}|nat=GBR|team={{UCI team code|Peugeot|1984}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1985 Tour de France|1985]]|name={{sortname|Luis|Herrera|Luis Herrera (cyclist)}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|CAF|1985}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1986 Tour de France|1986]]|name={{sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|LVC|1986}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1987 Tour de France|1987]]|name={{sortname|Luis|Herrera|Luis Herrera (cyclist)}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|CAF|1987}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1988 Tour de France|1988]]|name={{sortname|Steven|Rooks}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|PDM|1988}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1989 Tour de France|1989]]|name={{sortname|Gert-Jan|Theunisse}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|PDM|1989}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1990 Tour de France|1990]]|name={{sortname|Thierry|Claveyrolat}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|RMO|1990}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1991 Tour de France|1991]]|name={{sortname|Claudio|Chiappucci}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1991}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1992 Tour de France|1992]]|name={{sortname|Claudio|Chiappucci}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1992}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1993 Tour de France|1993]]|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|CLA|1993}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1994 Tour de France|1994]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|FES|1994}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1995 Tour de France|1995]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|FES|1995}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1996 Tour de France|1996]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|FES|1996}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1997 Tour de France|1997]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|FES|1997}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1998 Tour de France|1998]]|name={{sortname|Christophe|Rinero}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|COF|1998}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1999 Tour de France|1999]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|POL|1999}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2000 Tour de France|2000]]|name={{sortname|Santiago|Botero}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|KEL|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2001 Tour de France|2001]]|name={{sortname|Laurent|Jalabert}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2002 Tour de France|2002]]|name={{sortname|Laurent|Jalabert}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2003 Tour de France|2003]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|QST|2003}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2004 Tour de France|2004]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Virenque}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|QST|2004}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2005 Tour de France|2005]]|name={{sortname|Michael|Rasmussen|Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|RAB|2005}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2006 Tour de France|2006]]|name={{sortname|Michael|Rasmussen|Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|RAB|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2007 Tour de France|2007]]|name={{sortname|Mauricio|Soler}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|BAR|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2008 Tour de France|2008]]|name=<s>{{sortname|Bernhard|Kohl}}</s> {{sortname|Carlos|Sastre}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|CSC|2008b}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2009 Tour de France|2009]]|name=<s>{{sortname|Franco|Pellizotti}}</s> {{sortname|Egoi|Martínez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2010 Tour de France|2010]]|name={{sortname|Anthony|Charteau}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|BBO|2010}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2011 Tour de France|2011]]|name={{sortname|Samuel|Sánchez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2011}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2012 Tour de France|2012]]|name={{sortname|Thomas|Voeckler}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|EUC|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2013 Tour de France Mountains classification|2013]]|name={{sortname|Nairo|Quintana}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2014 Tour de France|2014]]|name={{sortname|Rafał|Majka}}|nat=POL|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2015 Tour de France|2015]]|name={{sortname|Chris|Froome}}|nat=GBR|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2016 Tour de France|2016]]|name={{sortname|Rafał|Majka}}|nat=POL|team={{UCI team code|TNK|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2017 Tour de France|2017]]|name={{sortname|Warren|Barguil}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|SUN|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2018 Tour de France|2018]]|name={{sortname|Julian|Alaphilippe}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|QST|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2019 Tour de France|2019]]|name={{sortname|Romain|Bardet}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2020 Tour de France|2020]]|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|UAD|2020}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2021 Tour de France|2021]]|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|UAD|2021}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2022 Tour de France|2022]]|name={{sortname|Jonas|Vingegaard}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2022}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2023 Tour de France|2023]]|name={{sortname|Giulio|Ciccone}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|TFS men|2023b}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2024 Tour de France|2024]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Carapaz}}|nat=ECU|team={{UCI team code|EFE|2024}}}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===Repeat winners===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rank
!Name
!Country
!Wins
!Years
|-
|1 || [[Richard Virenque]] || {{FRA}} ||align=center| 7 ||align=left| [[1994 Tour de France|1994]], [[1995 Tour de France|1995]], [[1996 Tour de France|1996]], [[1997 Tour de France|1997]], [[1999 Tour de France|1999]], [[2003 Tour de France|2003]], [[2004 Tour de France|2004]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2 || [[Federico Bahamontes]] || {{ESP}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|6 ||align=left| [[1954 Tour de France|1954]], [[1958 Tour de France|1958]], [[1959 Tour de France|1959]], [[1962 Tour de France|1962]], [[1963 Tour de France|1963]], [[1964 Tour de France|1964]]
|-
| [[Lucien Van Impe]] || {{BEL}} ||align=left| [[1971 Tour de France|1971]], [[1972 Tour de France|1972]], [[1975 Tour de France|1975]], [[1977 Tour de France|1977]], [[1981 Tour de France|1981]], [[1983 Tour de France|1983]]
|-
|4 || [[Julio Jiménez (cyclist)|Julio Jiménez]] || {{ESP}} ||align=center| 3 ||align=left| [[1965 Tour de France|1965]], [[1966 Tour de France|1966]], [[1967 Tour de France|1967]]
|-
|rowspan=12| 5 || [[Felicien Vervaecke]] || {{BEL}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="12"|2 ||align=left| [[1935 Tour de France|1935]], [[1937 Tour de France|1937]]
|-
| [[Gino Bartali]] || {{ITA}} ||align=left| [[1938 Tour de France|1938]], [[1948 Tour de France|1948]]
|-
| [[Fausto Coppi]] || {{ITA}} ||align=left| [[1949 Tour de France|1949]], [[1952 Tour de France|1952]]
|-
| [[Charly Gaul]] || {{LUX}} ||align=left| [[1955 Tour de France|1955]], [[1956 Tour de France|1956]]
|-
| [[Imerio Massignan]] || {{ITA}} ||align=left| [[1960 Tour de France|1960]], [[1961 Tour de France|1961]]
|-
| [[Eddy Merckx]] || {{BEL}} ||align=left| [[1969 Tour de France|1969]], [[1970 Tour de France|1970]]
|-
| [[Luis Herrera (cyclist)|Luis Herrera]] || {{COL}} ||align=left| [[1985 Tour de France|1985]], [[1987 Tour de France|1987]]
|-
| [[Claudio Chiappucci]] || {{ITA}} ||align=left| [[1991 Tour de France|1991]], [[1992 Tour de France|1992]]
|-
| [[Laurent Jalabert]] || {{FRA}} ||align=left| [[2001 Tour de France|2001]], [[2002 Tour de France|2002]]
|-
| [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]] || {{DEN}} ||align=left| [[2005 Tour de France|2005]], [[2006 Tour de France|2006]]
|-
| [[Rafał Majka]] || {{POL}} ||align=left| [[2014 Tour de France|2014]], [[2016 Tour de France|2016]]
|-
| [[Tadej Pogačar]] || {{SLO}} ||align=left| [[2020 Tour de France|2020]], [[2021 Tour de France|2021]]
|}

===By nationality===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rank
!Country
!Wins
!Riders winning most
!Most recent winner
|-
|1 || {{FRA}} || 23 || [[Richard Virenque]] (7)|| [[Romain Bardet]] (2019)
|-
|2 || {{ESP}} || 18 || [[Federico Bahamontes]] (6)|| [[Samuel Sánchez]] (2011)
|-
|3 || {{ITA}} || 13 || [[Gino Bartali]], [[Fausto Coppi]], [[Imerio Massignan]], [[Claudio Chiappucci]] (2 each)|| [[Giulio Ciccone]] (2023)
|-
|4 || {{BEL}} || 11 || [[Lucien Van Impe]] (6)|| [[Lucien Van Impe]] (1983)
|-
|5 || {{COL}} || 5 || [[Luis Herrera (cyclist)|Luis Herrera]] (2) || [[Nairo Quintana]] (2013)
|-
| 6 || {{DEN}} || 3 ||  [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]] (2) || {{nowrap|[[Jonas Vingegaard]] (2022)}}
|-
|rowspan=5| 7 || {{LUX}} || rowspan=5| 2 || [[Charly Gaul]] (2) || [[Charly Gaul]] (1956)
|-
| {{nowrap|{{NED}}}} || [[Steven Rooks]], [[Gert-Jan Theunisse]] || [[Gert-Jan Theunisse]] (1989)
|-
| {{GBR}} || [[Robert Millar]], [[Chris Froome]] || [[Chris Froome]] (2015)
|-
| {{POL}} || [[Rafał Majka]] (2) || [[Rafał Majka]] (2016)
|-
| {{SLO}} || [[Tadej Pogačar]] (2) || [[Tadej Pogačar]] (2021)
|-
|rowspan=2| 12 || {{SUI}} || rowspan=2| 1 || [[Tony Rominger]]|| [[Tony Rominger]] (1993)
|-
| {{ECU}} || [[Richard Carapaz]] || [[Richard Carapaz]] (2024)
|}

===Winners of the general and mountain classification in the same year===
Some cyclists have won both the [[general classification in the Tour de France|general classification]] and the mountains classification in the same year.
In the early years of the Tour, only the highest mountains gave points. Cyclists aiming for the Tour win generally did well on those mountains, so the riders high in the general classification were typically also high in the mountains classification, which made the double more likely. Later, the rules of the mountains classification changed, giving more points to mountains of lower category. The cyclists aiming to win the general classification did not spend energy on those lower category mountains, and thus other cyclists could aim for the mountains classification win. In 1969, Eddy Merckx won not only the general classification and the mountains classification, but also the [[Points classification in the Tour de France|points classification]].

The general classification and the mountain classification were won by the same rider twelve times, by eight different cyclists:
* [[1938 Tour de France|1938]]: [[Gino Bartali]]
* [[1939 Tour de France|1939]]: [[Sylvère Maes]]
* [[1948 Tour de France|1948]]: [[Gino Bartali]]
* [[1949 Tour de France|1949]]: [[Fausto Coppi]]
* [[1952 Tour de France|1952]]: [[Fausto Coppi]]
* [[1959 Tour de France|1959]]: [[Federico Bahamontes]]
* [[1969 Tour de France|1969]]: [[Eddy Merckx]]
* [[1970 Tour de France|1970]]: [[Eddy Merckx]]
* [[2008 Tour de France|2008]]: [[Carlos Sastre]]
* [[2015 Tour de France|2015]]: [[Chris Froome]]
* [[2020 Tour de France|2020]]: [[Tadej Pogačar]]
* [[2021 Tour de France|2021]]: [[Tadej Pogačar]]
* [[2022 Tour de France|2022]]: [[Jonas Vingegaard]]

===Days in polka dot jersey===
''after the end of [[2024 Tour de France]]''

The classification existed since [[1933 Tour de France|1933]]. The polka dot jersey was issued since the [[1975 Tour de France|1975]].

{| class="sortable plainrowheaders wikitable"
!scope=col|Rider
!scope=col|Days
!scope=col|Stages
|-
!scope=row width=200px|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Richard Virenque]]
|align=center width=80px|96
|align=center width=80px|96
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Lucien Van Impe]] 
|align=center|81
|align=center|94
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Federico Bahamontes]]
|align=center|74
|align=center|77
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Julio Jimenez (cyclist)|Julio Jimenez]]
|align=center|40
|align=center|43
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Eddy Merckx]]
|align=center|36
|align=center|40
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Félicien Vervaecke]]
|align=center|33
|align=center|48
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]]
|align=center|27
|align=center|27
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Domingo Perurena]]
|align=center|26
|align=center|30
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Claudio Chiappucci]]
| align="center" |26
| align="center" |27
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gino Bartali]]
|align=center|25
|align=center|30
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Luis Herrera (cyclist)|Luis Herrera]]
|align=center|25
|align=center|26
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fausto Coppi]]
|align=center|24
|align=center|24
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bernard Hinault]]
|align=center|22
|align=center|23
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bernard Vallet]]
|align=center|20
|align=center|21
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Vicente Trueba]]
|align=center|20
|align=center|20
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|LUX}} [[Charly Gaul]]
|align=center|20
|align=center|20
|}

==== Riders leading all stages of an edition ====

===== Before 1975 =====
In some editions the Mountain Classification, without a distinctive jersey, was not compiled in the first stages (no points awarded in the first stages). Some riders led all the stages after the first points were awarded:

{{flagicon|ESP|1931}} [[Vicente Trueba]] [[1933 Tour de France|1933]] (first stage awarding points: 4th stage)

{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Félicien Vervaecke]] [[1935 Tour de France|1935]] (first stage awarding points: 4th stage)

{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gino Bartali]] [[1938 Tour de France|1938]] (first stage awarding points: 8th stage)

{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fausto Coppi]] [[1949 Tour de France|1949]] (first stage awarding points: 11th stage)

{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Federico Bahamontes]] [[1954 Tour de France|1954]] (first stage awarding points: 11th stage)

{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Federico Bahamontes]] [[1958 Tour de France|1958]] (first stage awarding points: 13th stage)

{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Federico Bahamontes]] [[1963 Tour de France|1963]] (first stage awarding points: 10th stage)

===== After 1975 =====
No riders wore the jersey in all stages of a single edition. [[Lucien Van Impe]] in [[1977 Tour de France|1977]] wore it in most stages in a single edition: 25 of the 28 stages (but the jersey was not issued in the prologue). [[Bernard Vallet]] in [[1982 Tour de France|1982]] lead the classification in all 21 numbered stages but not after the prologue.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last=Woodland | first=Les | title=The Unknown Tour De France: The Many Faces of the World's Biggest Bicycle Race | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zqXUAAAACAAJ | year= 2000 | publisher=Cycling Resources | location=U.S. | isbn=978-1-892495-26-6 }}
* {{cite book | last=Woodland | first=Les | title=The Yellow Jersey Companion to the Tour de France | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QdMSjfvjDhUC | year= 2007 | orig-year=1st. pub. 2003 | publisher=[[Random House]] | location=London | isbn=978-0-224-08016-3 }}
* {{cite book | last1=McGann | last2=McGann | first1=Bill | first2=Carol | title=The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jxq20JskqMUC | year=2006 | publisher=Dog Ear Publishing | location=Indianapolis, U.S. | isbn=978-1-59858-180-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Polka dot jersey (Tour de France)|Mountains classification in the Tour de France}}

{{Tour de France mountains classification winners}}
{{Tour de France}}

[[Category:Tour de France classifications and awards]]
[[Category:Cycling jerseys]]