# Points classification in the Vuelta a España

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

| 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. 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.
| 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

## Winners of the points classification by year

| Year | Winner | Points | Second place | Points | Third place | Points |
| 1945 | Delio Rodríguez (ESP) | 2347 | João Rebelo (POR) | 2021 | Julián Berrendero (ESP) | 1967 |
| 1946–1948: No points classification ||||||||
| 1949: Race not held ||||||||
| 1950: No points classification ||||||||
| 1951–1954: Race not held ||||||||
| 1955 | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) | 128 | Gabriel Company Bauza (ESP) | 161 | Jesús Loroño (ESP) | 177 |
| 1956 | Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL) | 98 | Gilbert Bauvin (FRA) | 187 | Angelo Conterno (ITA) | 231 |
| 1957 | Vicente Iturat (ESP) | 160 | Gastone Nencini (ITA) | 173 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) | 217 |
| 1958 | Salvador Botella (ESP) | 202 | Rik Luyten (BEL) | 264 | Hilaire Couvreur (BEL) | 265 |
| 1959 | Rik Van Looy (BEL) | 148 | Antonio Suárez (ESP) | 179 | Frans Van Looveren (BEL) | 253 |
| 1960 | Arthur Decabooter (BEL) | 189 | Juan Campillo (ESP) | 214 | Frans De Mulder (BEL) | 239 |
| 1961 | Antonio Suárez (ESP) | 194 | Vicente Iturat (ESP) | 199 | José Pérez Francés (ESP) | 201 |
| 1962 | Rudi Altig (FRG) | 143.5 | Seamus Elliott (IRE) | 256 | José Pérez Francés (ESP) | 281 |
| 1963 | Bas Maliepaard (NED) | 130 | Edgard Sorgeloos (BEL) | 105 | Frans Aerenhouts (BEL) | 102 |
| 1964 | José Pérez Francés (ESP) | 167 | Arthur Decabooter (BEL) | 107 | Raymond Poulidor (FRA) | 76 |
| 1965 | Rik Van Looy (BEL) | 243 | Frans Verbeeck (BEL) | 195 | Michel Grain (FRA) | 191 |
| 1966 | Jos van der Vleuten (NED) | 147 | Gerben Karstens (NED) | 142 | Pasquale Fabbri (ITA) | 105 |
| 1967 | Jan Janssen (NED) | 209 | Gerben Karstens (NED) | 171 | Ramón Sáez Marzo (ESP) | 159 |
| 1968 | Jan Janssen (NED) | 142 | Rudi Altig (FRG) | 125 | Michael Wright (GBR) | 122 |
| 1969 | Raymond Steegmans (BEL) | 188 | Michael Wright (GBR) | 171 | Ramón Sáez Marzo (ESP) | 118 |
| 1970 | Guido Reybrouck (BEL) | 199.5 | Jean Ronsmans (BEL) | 197 | Ramón Sáez Marzo (ESP) | 172 |
| 1971 | Cyrille Guimard (FRA) | 233 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | | Walter Godefroot (BEL) | |
| 1972 | Domingo Perurena (ESP) | 224 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | 126 | Ger Harings (NED) | 114 |
| 1973 | Eddy Merckx (BEL) | 215.5 | Roger Swerts (BEL) | 162 | Pieter Nassen (BEL) | 154 |
| 1974 | Domingo Perurena (ESP) | 210 | Eric Leman (BEL) | 186 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | 159 |
| 1975 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | 249.5 | Agustín Tamames (ESP) | 188 | Domingo Perurena (ESP) | 160 |
| 1976 | Dietrich Thurau (FRG) | 174.5 | Francisco Elorriaga (ESP) | 174 | Cees Priem (NED) | 171 |
| 1977 | Freddy Maertens (BEL) | 369 | Klaus-Peter Thaler (FRG) | 173 | José Viejo (ESP) | 131 |
| 1978 | Ferdi Van Den Haute (BEL) | 218 | Willy Teirlinck (BEL) | 157 | Bernard Hinault (FRA) | 130 |
| 1979 | Fons De Wolf (BEL) | 219 | Noël Dejonckheere (BEL) | 173 | Joop Zoetemelk (NED) | 139 |
| 1980 | Seán Kelly (IRL) | 313 | Guido Van Calster (BEL) | 144 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | 116 |
| 1981 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | 211 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | 137 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | 134 |
| 1982 | Stefan Mutter (SUI) | 172 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | 133 | Eddy Vanhaerens (BEL) | 128 |
| 1983 | Marino Lejarreta (ESP) | 188 | Bernard Hinault (FRA) | 162 | Laurent Fignon (FRA) | 149 |
| 1984 | Guido Van Calster (BEL) | 204 | Noël Dejonckheere (BEL) | 168 | Jozef Lieckens (BEL) | 138 |
| 1985 | Seán Kelly (IRL) | 223 | Pello Ruiz Cabestany (ESP) | 132 | Francisco Rodríguez Maldonado (COL) | 100 |
| 1986 | Seán Kelly (IRL) | 253 | Pello Ruiz Cabestany (ESP) | 197 | Álvaro Pino (ESP) | 129 |
| 1987 | Alfonso Gutiérrez (ESP) | 149 | Luis Herrera (COL) | 104 | Jesús Blanco Villar (ESP) | 104 |
| 1988 | Seán Kelly (IRL) | 248 | Mathieu Hermans (NED) | 166 | Benny Van Brabant (BEL) | 138 |
| 1989 | Malcolm Elliott (GBR) | 161 | Mathieu Hermans (NED) | 139 | Eddy Planckaert (BEL) | 139 |
| 1990 | Uwe Raab (GDR) | 173 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 96 | Malcolm Elliott (GBR) | 91 |
| 1991 | Uwe Raab (GER) | 169 | Melcior Mauri (ESP) | 134 | Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED) | 116 |
| 1992 | Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) | 157 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 137 | Jelle Nijdam (NED) | 129 |
| 1993 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 247 | Alex Zülle (SUI) | 188 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 170 |
| 1994 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 243 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 227 | Alex Zülle (SUI) | 121 |
| 1995 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 312 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | 195 | Marcel Wüst (GER) | 178 |
| 1996 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 237 | Nicola Minali (ITA) | 163 | Tom Steels (BEL) | 142 |
| 1997 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 206 | Ján Svorada (CZE) | 161 | Marcel Wüst (GER) | 139 |
| 1998 | Fabrizio Guidi (ITA) | 206 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 158 | José María Jiménez (ESP) | 127 |
| 1999 | Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL) | 129 | Robert Hunter (RSA) | 123 | Igor González de Galdeano (ESP) | 122 |
| 2000 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | 136 | Giovanni Lombardi (ITA) | 123 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | 116 |
| 2001 | José María Jiménez (ESP) | 130 | Erik Zabel (GER) | 125 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | 115 |
| 2002 | Erik Zabel (GER) | 188 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | 163 | Aitor González (ESP) | 151 |
| 2003 | Erik Zabel (GER) | 181 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 161 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | 160 |
| 2004 | Erik Zabel (GER) | 152 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 144 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | 142 |
| 2005 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | 169 | Denis Menchov (RUS) | 142 | Carlos Sastre (ESP) | 124 |
| 2006 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | 199 | Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) | 163 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 147 |
| 2007 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | 147 | Denis Menchov (RUS) | 135 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | 127 |
| 2008 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | 158 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | 137 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 129 |
| 2009 | André Greipel (GER) | 150 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 111 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | 101 |
| 2010 | Mark Cavendish (GBR) | 156 | Tyler Farrar (USA) | 149 | Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) | 119 |
| 2011 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | 122 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | 115 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | 101 |
| 2012 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 199 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | 193 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | 161 |
| 2013 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 152 | Chris Horner (USA) | 126 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | 125 |
| 2014 | John Degenkolb (GER) | 169 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 146 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | 145 |
| 2015 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 118 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | 116 | Esteban Chaves (COL) | 108 |
| 2016 | Fabio Felline (ITA) | 100 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | 97 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 93 |
| 2017 | Chris Froome (GBR) | 158 | Matteo Trentin (ITA) | 156 | Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) | 128 |
| 2018 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 131 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | 119 | Elia Viviani (ITA) | 105 |
| 2019 | Primož Roglič (SLO) | 155 | Tadej Pogačar (SLO) | 136 | Sam Bennett (IRL) | 134 |
| 2020 | Primož Roglič (SLO) | 204 | Richard Carapaz (ECU) | 133 | Dan Martin (IRL) | 111 |
| 2021 | Fabio Jakobsen (NED) | 250 | Primož Roglič (SLO) | 199 | Magnus Cort (DEN) | 161 |
| 2022 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | 409 | Fred Wright (GBR) | 186 | Enric Mas (ESP) | 138 |
| 2023 | Kaden Groves (AUS) | 315 | Remco Evenepoel (BEL) | 236 | Andreas Kron (DEN) | 167 |
| 2024 | Kaden Groves (AUS) | 226 | Primož Roglič (SLO) | 140 | Max Poole (GBR) | 118 |

### Multiple winners

| Wins | Rider | Editions |
| 4 | Sean Kelly (IRL) | 1980, 1985, 1986, 1988 |
| 4 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 |
| 3 | Erik Zabel (GER) | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| 2 | Rik Van Looy (BEL) | 1959, 1965 |
| 2 | Jan Janssen (NED) | 1967, 1968 |
| 2 | Uwe Raab (GER) | 1990, 1991 |
| 2 | Primož Roglič (SLO) | 2019, 2020 |
| 2 | Kaden Groves (AUS) | 2023, 2024 |

## Days in leader's jersey

after the end of 2024 Vuelta a España
| Rider | Days | Stages |
| Sean Kelly | 83 | 84 |
| Laurent Jalabert | 78 | 78 |
| Erik Zabel | 53 | 53 |
| Alejandro Valverde | 42 | 42 |
| Uwe Raab | 34 | 34 |
| Joaquim Rodríguez | 32 | 32 |
| Primož Roglič | 31 | 31 |
| Thor Hushovd | 25 | 25 |
| Kaden Groves | 25 | 25 |
| Jan Janssen | 24 | 28 |
| John Degenkolb | 24 | 24 |
| Domingo Perurena | 23 | 27 |
| Eddy Planckaert | 20 | 22 |
| Rik Van Looy | 19 | 20 |
| Freddy Maertens | 19 | 20 |