King of the Mountains

The mountains classification ( common: Big Mountain Price ) is in many cycling stage race in a separate summary for those cyclist, best tackle the mountains.

Almost all tours there is a separate classification for the best climbers. The first climbs were introduced in 1933 at the Tour de France and the Giro d' Italia. The respective leading rider in the mountains classification jersey wear a special rating. For the tour, the polka-dot, the Giro, the Azure Maglia Azzurra, formerly Green ( Maglia Verde) and at the Vuelta a España, the shirt color has changed in recent years frequently: in 2005 it was red, 2006-2009 orange and since 2010 is white with blue dots.

The to be traveled on each leg increases and passes are classified according to their degree of difficulty and its position in the race, and this classification is bound to a point system. The points are awarded to those drivers that pass the respective rise first. The categorization of climbs and the awarding of points is in this case defined solely by the respective organizer and thus is not subject to general formulas or tables. The International Cycling Union Union Cycliste Internationale is the organizers free, in addition to the overall and the team standings after time more ratings after sports terms - such as a mountain stage - set up, leaves the design but the Special Regulations of the event.

Some day races also awarded a mountain stage to animate the race.