King of the Mountains / Queen of the Mountains
A polkadot cycling jersey worn by Queen of the Mountains: Alison Jackson
SportRoad bicycle racing
Competition
Awarded forClimbing specialists
Local name
  • Le Roi des montagnes (French)
  • Gran Premio della Montagna (Italian)
  • Gran Premio de la montaña (Spanish)

The King of the Mountains (KoM) is an award given to the best climbing specialist in a men's cycling road race; in women's cycle racing, 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, where it is officially known as the Mountains classification, 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 catégorie (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 until 2011; in 2012, the jersey changed 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.

Additionally, King of the Mountains (KoM) can also apply to the highest ranked user in certain activities tracked by applications such as Strava.[1]

Mountains classification winners of the Grand Tours

Winners by year

Year[2] Tour de France Giro d'Italia Vuelta a España
2023  Giulio Ciccone (ITA) (2/2)  Thibaut Pinot (FRA) (1/1)  Remco Evenepoel (BEL) (1/1)
2022  Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) (1/1)  Koen Bouwman (NED) (1/1)  Richard Carapaz (ECU) (1/1)
2021  Tadej Pogačar (SLO) (2/2)  Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) (2/2)  Michael Storer (AUS) (1/1)
2020  Tadej Pogačar (SLO) (1/2)  Ruben Guerreiro (POR) (1/1)  Guillaume Martin (FRA) (1/1)
2019  Romain Bardet (FRA) (1/1)  Giulio Ciccone (ITA) (1/2)  Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) (1/2)
2018  Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) (1/1)  Chris Froome (GBR) (2/2)  Thomas De Gendt (BEL) (1/1)
2017  Warren Barguil (FRA) (1/1)  Mikel Landa (ESP) (1/1)  Davide Villella (ITA) (1/1)
2016  Rafał Majka (POL) (2/2)  Mikel Nieve (ESP) (1/1)  Omar Fraile (ESP) (2/2)
2015  Chris Froome (GBR) (1/2)  Giovanni Visconti (ITA) (1/1)  Omar Fraile (ESP) (1/2)
2014  Rafał Majka (POL) (1/2)  Julián Arredondo (COL) (1/1)  Luis León Sánchez (ESP) (1/1)
2013  Nairo Quintana (COL) (1/1)  Stefano Pirazzi (ITA) (1/1)  Nicolas Edet (FRA) (1/1)
2012  Thomas Voeckler (FRA) (1/1)  Matteo Rabottini (ITA) (1/1)  Simon Clarke (AUS) (1/1)
2011  Samuel Sánchez (ESP) (1/1)  Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (2/2)  David Moncoutié (FRA) (4/4)
2010  Anthony Charteau (FRA) (1/1)  Matthew Lloyd (AUS) (1/1)  David Moncoutié (FRA) (3/4)
2009  Egoi Martínez (ESP)[A] (2/2)  Stefano Garzelli (ITA) (1/2)  David Moncoutié (FRA) (2/4)
2008  Carlos Sastre (ESP)[B] (2/2)  Emanuele Sella (ITA) (1/1)  David Moncoutié (FRA) (1/4)
2007  Mauricio Soler (COL) (1/1)  Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) (1/1)  Denis Menchov (RUS) (1/1)
2006  Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (2/2)  Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) (1/1)  Egoi Martínez (ESP) (1/2)
2005  Michael Rasmussen (DEN) (1/2)  José Rujano Guillén (VEN) (1/1)  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) (1/1)
2004  Richard Virenque (FRA) (7/7)  Fabian Wegmann (GER) (1/1)  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) (1/1)  Aitor Osa (ESP) (1/1)
2001  Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (2/3)  Fredy González (COL) (1/2)  José María Jiménez (ESP) (4/4)
2000  Santiago Botero (COL) (1/1)  Francesco Casagrande (ITA) (1/1)  Carlos Sastre (ESP) (1/2)
1999  Richard Virenque (FRA) (5/7)  José Jaime González (COL) (2/2)  José María Jiménez (ESP) (3/4)
1998  Christophe Rinero (FRA) (1/1)  Marco Pantani (ITA) (1/1)  José María Jiménez (ESP) (2/4)
1997  Richard Virenque (FRA) (4/7)  José Jaime González (COL) (1/2)  José María 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) (1/1)  Luc Leblanc (FRA) (1/1)
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) (1/1)
1991  Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (2/5)  Iñaki Gastón (ESP) (1/1)  Luis Herrera (COL) (5/5)
1990  Thierry Claveyrolat (FRA) (1/1)  Claudio Chiappucci (ITA) (1/5)  José Martín Farfán (COL) (1/1)
1989  Gert-Jan Theunisse (NED) (1/1)  Luis Herrera (COL) (4/5)  Óscar Vargas (COL) (1/1)
1988  Steven Rooks (NED) (1/1)  Andrew Hampsten (USA) (1/1)  Álvaro Pino (ESP) (1/1)
1987  Luis Herrera (COL) (3/5)  Robert Millar (GBR) (2/2)  Luis Herrera (COL) (2/5)
1986  Bernard Hinault (FRA) (1/1)  Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) (1/1)  José Luis Laguía (ESP) (5/5)
1985  Luis Herrera (COL) (1/5)  José Luis Navarro (ESP) (1/1)  José Luis Laguía (ESP) (4/5)
1984  Robert Millar (GBR) (1/2)  Laurent Fignon (FRA) (1/1)  Felipe Yáñez (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) (1/1)  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) (1/1)  Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (2/3)  Juan Fernández (ESP) (1/1)
1979  Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) (1/1)  Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) (1/3)  Felipe Yáñez (ESP) (1/2)
1978  Mariano Martínez (FRA) (1/1)  Ueli Sutter (SUI) (1/1)  Andrés Oliva (ESP) (5/5)
1977  Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (4/8)  Faustino Fernández Oviés (ESP) (1/1)  Pedro Torres (ESP) (1/1)
1976  Giancarlo Bellini (ITA) (1/1)  Andrés Oliva (ESP) (4/5)  Andrés Oliva (ESP) (3/5)
1975  Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (3/8)  Francisco Galdós (ESP) (1/1)
 Andrés Oliva (ESP) (2/5)		  Andrés Oliva (ESP) (1/5)
1974  Domingo Perurena (ESP) (1/1)  José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (4/4)  José Luis Abilleira (ESP) (2/2)
1973  Pedro Torres (ESP) (1/1)  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) (1/1)
1971  Lucien Van Impe (BEL) (1/8)  José Manuel Fuente (ESP) (1/4)  Joop Zoetemelk (NED) (1/1)
1970  Eddy Merckx (BEL) (3/3)  Martin Vandenbossche (BEL) (1/1)  Agustín Tamames (ESP) (1/1)
1969  Eddy Merckx (BEL) (2/3)  Claudio Michelotto (ITA) (1/1)  Luis Ocaña (ESP) (1/1)
1968  Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (2/2)  Eddy Merckx (BEL) (1/3)  Francisco Gabica (ESP) (1/1)
1967  Julio Jiménez (ESP) (6/6)  Aurelio Gonzales (ESP) (1/2)  Mariano Díaz (ESP) (1/1)
1966  Julio Jiménez (ESP) (5/6)  Franco Bitossi (ITA) (3/3)  Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) (1/1)
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) (1/1)  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) (1/1)  Antonio Karmany (ESP) (1/3)
1959  Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (6/9)  Charly Gaul (LUX) (4/4)  Antonio Suárez (ESP) (1/1)
1958  Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (5/9)  Jean Brankart (BEL) (1/1)  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) (1/1)
1955  Charly Gaul (LUX) (1/4)  Gastone Nencini (ITA) (1/2)  Giuseppe Buratti (ITA) (1/1)
1954  Federico Bahamontes (ESP) (1/9)  Fausto Coppi (ITA) (5/5) Race not held
1953  Jesús Loroño (ESP) (1/1)  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) (1/1)
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) (1/1)  Emilio Rodríguez (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) (1/1)
1947  Pierre Brambilla (ITA) (1/1)  Gino Bartali (ITA) (8/9)  Emilio Rodríguez (ESP) (2/3)
1946 Race not held  Gino Bartali (ITA) (7/9)  Emilio Rodríguez (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) (1/1)
1940  Gino Bartali (ITA) (6/9) Race not held
1939  Sylvere Maes (BEL) (1/1)  Gino Bartali (ITA) (5/9)
1938  Gino Bartali (ITA) (4/9)  Giovanni Valetti (ITA) (1/1)
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) (1/1)
1935  Félicien Vervaecke (BEL) (1/2)  Gino Bartali (ITA) (1/9)  Edoardo Molinar (ITA) (1/1)
1934  René Vietto (FRA) (1/1)  Remo Bertoni (ITA) (1/1) Race not held
1933  Vicente Trueba (ESP) (1/1)  Alfredo Binda (ITA) (1/1)
Year Tour de France Giro d'Italia Vuelta a España
Notes

A. a Franco Pellizotti was the Mountains leader but later had his results removed after his biological passport indicated irregular values, but the classification has not been remade yet. Egoi Martínez was ranked second and later declared winner.
B. b Bernhard Kohl was the Mountains leader but later had his results removed after a positive test for MIRCERA and admission to the use of doping. Carlos Sastre was ranked second and later declared winner.[3]

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.

Natural doubles

The Tour/Giro double has been achieved by four riders:

The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by two riders:

The Tour/Vuelta double has also been achieved by four riders:

Most wins (Grand Tour)

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.

References

  1. ^ Wynn, Nigel (2017-01-16). "How to take a Strava KOM". cyclingweekly.com. Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  2. ^ Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. Gbrathletics.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-13.
  3. ^ Official history of the Tour, see pages 117 and 123 Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
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