Mountains classification in the Tour de France Mountains classification in the Tour de France The mountains classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 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 wears the polka dot jersey (), a white jersey with red polka dots. The first Tour de France crossed no mountain passes, but several lesser cols. The first was the col des Echarmeaux (), on the opening stage from Paris to Lyon, on what is now
1952 Tour de France which the best three cyclists had the lowest accumulated team in that stage) received a prize. It was won by the Italian team. The Luxembourgian team finished with only two cyclists, and therefore were not eligible for the team classification. The 1952 Tour de France saw the introduction of the combativity award, a daily award for the most combative rider of the stage. The winner of that award received 100,000 French francs. (The supercombativity award, the award for the most combative rider of the entire Tour de France, would first be given in 1953.) The special award for the best