Points classification in the Vuelta a España
Introduction 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:*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, 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 Type1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15thStage finish252016141210987654321Intermediate sprint432           The Vuelta used to award an equal number of points on all stages for stage finishes. 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. 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.Type1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15thStage finish (Flat stage)50302018161412108765432Stage finish (Medium Mountain stage)30252219171513119765432Stage finish (Hard Mountain stage and Time Trials)201715131110987654321Intermediate sprint2017151310         Rules
Winners of the points classification by year Joaquim Rodríguez (right) wearing the classification leader's jersey at the 2011 Vuelta a EspañaEventual classification winner Alejandro Valverde in the green jersey at the 2013 Vuelta a EspañaMatteo Trentin in the green jersey at the 2017 Vuelta a EspañaYearWinnerPointsSecond placePointsThird placePointsRef(s) 1945    2347    2021    1967   1946–1948: ''No points classification'' 1949: ''Race not held'' 1950: ''No points classification'' 1951–1954: ''Race not held'' 1955    128    161    177   1956    98    187    231  1957    160    173    217 1958    202   264    265 1959    148   179    253 1960   189   214    239 1961    194   199    201 1962    143.5   256    281 1963    130   105    102 1964   167   107    76 1965    243   195    191 1966    147    142    105  1967    209    171    159  1968    142    125    122  1969    188   171    118 1970    199.5    197    172  1971   233     1972   224   126    114  1973    215.5    162    154  1974    210    186    159  1975    249.5   188    160  1976    174.5    174    171  1977    369   173    131 1978    218    157    130  1979    219    173    139  1980    313    144   116  1981    211    137    134  1982    172    133    128  1983    188    162    149 1984|204   168    138 1985|223   132    100 1986|253   197    129 1987|149   104    104 1988|248   166    138 1989|161   139    139 1990|173   96    91 1991|169   134    116 1992|157   137    129 1993|247   188    170 1994|243   227    121 1995|312   195    178 1996|142 1997|139 1998|127 1999|122 2000|116  2001|115  2002|151  2003|160  2004|142  2005|124  2006|147  2007|127  2008|129  2009|101  2010|119  2011|101  2012|1612013|1252014|1452015|1082016|932017|1282018|1052019|134 2020|111 2021|161 2022|138 2023|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
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