King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains (KoM; Gran Premio della Montagna or GPM in Italian) 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 rouges). 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 wore a green jersey through 2011; beginning in 2012, the jersey will change to blue at the behest of the corporate sponsor of the mountains classification. In the Vuelta several jersey designs have been used, but since 2010 it has been white with blue polka dots.
Alternatively, King of the Mountains also apply to the highest ranked user of activities trackers such as Strava.[1]
Contents
1 Mountains classification winners of the Grand Tours
1.1 Career triples
1.2 Natural doubles
1.3 Most wins (Grand Tour)
1.4 Winners in Grand Tour by year
2 See also
3 References
Mountains classification winners of the Grand Tours
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.
Career triples
No rider has won the "King of the Mountains" in all three Grand Tours in the same year. Only two riders, Federico Bahamontes and Luis Herrera, have won all three competitions in different years. Ten riders have achieved doubles.
Federico Bahamontes (ESP) — 1 Giro mountains jersey (1956), 6 Tour mountains jerseys (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964), 2 Vuelta mountains jersey (1957, 1958)
Luis Herrera (COL) — 1 Giro mountains jersey (1989), 2 Tour mountains jerseys (1985, 1987), 2 Vuelta mountains jersey (1987, 1991)
Natural doubles
The Tour/Giro double has been achieved by four riders:
Fausto Coppi (1949)
Charly Gaul (1956)
Lucien Van Impe (1983)
Claudio Chiappucci (1992)
The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by two riders:
Manuel Fuente (1972)
Andrés Oliva (1975, 1976)
The Tour/Vuelta double has also been achieved by four riders:
Federico Bahamontes (1958)
Julio Jiminez (1965)
Luis Herrera (1987)
Tony Rominger (1993)
Most wins (Grand Tour)
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)
7: Richard Virenque -
France
- Tour de France (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004)
6: Julio Jiménez - Spain
- Tour de France (1965, 1966, 1967)
- Vuelta a Espana (1963, 1964, 1965)
Winners in Grand Tour by year
| Year |  Tour de France (FRA) |  Giro d'Italia (ITA) |  Vuelta a España (ESP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) |  Chris Froome (GBR) (2/2) |  Thomas De Gendt (BEL) |
| 2017 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Mikel Landa (ESP) | Davide Villella (ITA) |
| 2016 |  Rafał Majka (POL) (2/2) | Mikel Nieve (ESP) | Omar Fraile (ESP) (2/2) |
| 2015 | Chris Froome (GBR) (1/2) | Giovanni Visconti (ITA) | Omar Fraile (ESP) (1/2) |
| 2014 | Rafał Majka (POL) (1/2) |  Julián Arredondo (COL) | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) |
| 2013 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Stefano Pirazzi (ITA) | Nicolas Edet (FRA) |
| 2012 | Thomas Voeckler (FRA) | Matteo Rabottini (ITA) |  Simon Clarke (AUS) |
| 2011 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (2/2) | David Moncoutié (FRA) (4/4) |
| 2010 | Anthony Charteau (FRA) | Matthew Lloyd (AUS) | David Moncoutié (FRA) (3/4) |
| 2009 | None[Notes 1] | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (1/2) | David Moncoutié (FRA) (2/4) |
| 2008 | None[Notes 2] | Emanuele Sella (ITA) | David Moncoutié (FRA) (1/4) |
| 2007 | Mauricio Soler (COL) | Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) |  Denis Menchov (RUS) |
| 2006 |  Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (2/2) | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Egoi Martínez (ESP) |
| 2005 | Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (1/2) |  José Rujano Guillén (VEN) | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 2004 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (7/7) |  Fabian Wegmann (GER) | Félix Cárdenas (COL) (2/2) |
| 2003 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (6/7) | Fredy González (COL) (2/2) | Félix Cárdenas (COL) (1/2) |
| 2002 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (3/3) |  Julio Perez Cuapio (MEX) | Aitor Osa (ESP) |
| 2001 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (2/3) | Fredy González (COL) (1/2) | José Maria Jiménez (ESP) (4/4) |
| 2000 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | Carlos Sastre (ESP) |
| 1999 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (5/7) | José Jaime González (COL) (2/2) | José Maria Jiménez (ESP) (3/4) |
| 1998 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Marco Pantani (ITA) | José Maria Jiménez (ESP) (2/4) |
| 1997 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (4/7) | José Jaime González (COL) (1/2) | José Maria Jiménez (ESP) (1/4) |
| 1996 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (3/7) | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) (2/2) |  Tony Rominger (SUI) (3/3) |
| 1995 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (2/7) | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) (1/2) | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (1/3) |
| 1994 | Richard Virenque (FRA) (1/7) | Pascal Richard (SUI) | Luc Leblanc (FRA) |
| 1993 | Tony Rominger (SUI) (2/3) | Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (5/5) | Tony Rominger (SUI) (1/3) |
| 1992 | Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (4/5) | Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (3/5) | Carlos Hernández (ESP) |
| 1991 | Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (2/5) | Iñaki Gaston (ESP) | Luis Herrera (COL) (5/5) |
| 1990 | Thierry Claveyrolat (FRA) | Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (1/5) | José Martín Farfán (COL) |
| 1989 |  Gert-Jan Theunisse (NED) | Luis Herrera (COL) (4/5) | Óscar Vargas (COL) |
| 1988 | Steven Rooks (NED) |  Andrew Hampsten (USA) | Álvaro Pino (ESP) |
| 1987 | Luis Herrera (COL) (3/5) | Robert Millar (GBR) (2/2) | Luis Herrera (COL) (2/5) |
| 1986 | Bernard Hinault (FRA) | Pedro Muñoz (ESP) | José Luis Laguía (ESP) (5/5) |
| 1985 | Luis Herrera (COL) (1/5) | José Luis Navarro (ESP) | José Luis Laguía (ESP) (4/5) |
| 1984 | Robert Millar (GBR) (1/2) | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | Felipe Yanez (ESP) (2/2) |
| 1983 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (8/8) | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (7/8) | José Luis Laguía (ESP) (3/5) |
| 1982 | Bernard Vallet (FRA) | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (6/8) | José Luis Laguía (ESP) (2/5) |
| 1981 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (5/8) | Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (3/3) | José Luis Laguía (ESP) (1/5) |
| 1980 | Raymond Martin (FRA) | Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (2/3) | Juan Fernández (ESP) |
| 1979 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (1/3) | Felipe Yanez (ESP) (1/2) |
| 1978 | Mariano Martínez (FRA) | Ueli Sutter (SUI) | Andrés Oliva (ESP) (5/5) |
| 1977 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (4/8) | Faustino Fernández Oviés (ESP) | Pedro Torres (ESP) |
| 1976 | Giancarlo Bellini (ITA) | Andrés Oliva (ESP) (4/5) | Andrés Oliva (ESP) (3/5) |
| 1975 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (3/8) | Francisco Galdós (ESP) Andrés Oliva (ESP) (2/5) | Andrés Oliva (ESP) (1/5) |
| 1974 | Domingo Perurena (ESP) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (4/4) | José Luis Abilleira (ESP) (2/2) |
| 1973 | Pedro Torres (ESP) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (3/4) | José Luis Abilleira (ESP) (1/2) |
| 1972 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (2/8) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (2/4) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) |
| 1971 | Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (1/8) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (1/4) | Joop Zoetemelk (NED) |
| 1970 | Eddy Merckx (BEL) (3/3) | Martin Vandenbossche (BEL) | Agustín Tamames (ESP) |
| 1969 | Eddy Merckx (BEL) (2/3) | Claudio Michelotto (ITA) | Luis Ocaña (ESP) |
| 1968 | Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (2/2) | Eddy Merckx (BEL) (1/3) | Francisco Gabica (ESP) |
| 1967 | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (6/6) | Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (1/2) | Mariano Diaz (ESP) |
| 1966 | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (5/6) | Franco Bitossi (ITA) (3/3) | Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) |
| 1965 | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (4/6) | Franco Bitossi (ITA) (2/3) | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (3/6) |
| 1964 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (9/9) | Franco Bitossi (ITA) (1/3) | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (2/6) |
| 1963 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (8/9) | Vito Taccone (ITA) (2/2) | Julio Jiménez (ESP) (1/6) |
| 1962 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (7/9) | Angelino Soler (ESP) | Antonio Karmany (ESP) (3/3) |
| 1961 | Imerio Massignan (ITA) (2/2) | Vito Taccone (ITA) (1/2) | Antonio Karmany (ESP) (2/3) |
| 1960 | Imerio Massignan (ITA) (1/2) | Rik Van Looy (BEL) | Antonio Karmany (ESP) (1/3) |
| 1959 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (6/9) |  Charly Gaul (LUX) (4/4) | Antonio Suarez (ESP) |
| 1958 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (5/9) | Jean Brankart (BEL) | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (4/9) |
| 1957 | Gastone Nencini (ITA) (2/2) | Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (3/3) | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (3/9) |
| 1956 | Charly Gaul (LUX) (3/4) | Charly Gaul (LUX) (2/4) Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (2/9) | Nino Defilippis (ITA) |
| 1955 | Charly Gaul (LUX) (1/4) | Gastone Nencini (ITA) (1/2) | Giuseppe Buratti (ITA) |
| 1954 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (1/9) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) (5/5) | Race not held |
| 1953 | Jesús Loroño (ESP) | Pasquale Fornara (ESP) | |
| 1952 | Fausto Coppi (ITA) (4/5) | Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (2/3) | |
| 1951 | Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) (1/3) | Louison Bobet (FRA) (2/2) | |
| 1950 | Louison Bobet (FRA) (1/2) | Hugo Koblet (SUI) | Emilio Rodriguez (ESP) (3/3) |
| 1949 | Fausto Coppi (ITA) (3/5) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) (2/5) | Race not held |
| 1948 | Gino Bartali (ITA) (9/9) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) (1/5) | Bernardo Ruiz (ESP) |
| 1947 | Pierre Brambilla (ITA) | Gino Bartali (ITA) (8/9) | Emilio Rodriguez (ESP) (2/3) |
| 1946 | Race not held | Gino Bartali (ITA) (7/9) | Emilio Rodriguez (ESP) (1/3) |
| 1945 | Race not held | Julián Berrendero (ESP) (3/3) | |
| 1944 | Race not held | ||
| 1943 | |||
| 1942 | Julián Berrendero (ESP) (2/3) | ||
| 1941 | Fermín Trueba (ESP) | ||
| 1940 | Gino Bartali (ITA) (6/9) | Race not held | |
| 1939 | Sylvere Maes (BEL) | Gino Bartali (ITA) (5/9) | |
| 1938 | Gino Bartali (ITA) (4/9) | Giovanni Valetti (ITA) | |
| 1937 | Félicien Vervaecke (BEL) (2/2) | Gino Bartali (ITA) (3/9) | |
| 1936 | Julián Berrendero (ESP) (1/3) | Gino Bartali (ITA) (2/9) | Salvador Molina (ESP) |
| 1935 | Félicien Vervaecke (BEL) (1/2) | Gino Bartali (ITA) (1/9) | Edoardo Molinar (ITA) |
| 1934 | René Vietto (FRA) | Remo Bertoni (ITA) | Race not held |
| 1933 | Vicente Trueba (ESP) | Alfredo Binda (ITA) |
- Notes
^ Franco Pellizotti's results have been removed, after his biological passport indicated irregular values, but the classification has not been remade yet. Egoi Martínez was ranked second.
^ The competition was originally won by Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl, 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
See also
- Climbing specialist
References
^ http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/training/take-strava-kom-142795
^ Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. Gbrathletics.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-13.
