CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '06
**Tour de France Question Stage 5**
Who was the rider responsible for making the Green Jersey necessary?
Answer:
“Campionissimo” Fausto Coppi was so dominant in 1952 that race director Jacques Goddet feared the Tour was losing an element of excitement. Midway through the Goddet doubled the prize for second place to keep the other riders racing hard.
In 1953 Goddet devised a plan to keep the sprinters racing hard for the entire race. A Point's Competition was offered as a new classification. Similar to the Maillot Jaune (race leader's Yellow Jersey), a distinctive jersey was needed to designate the classification leader and the Maillot Vert (Green Jersey) was born.
|
