One of the major innovations introduced
in the 1975 Tour de France (TdF) was the Maillot Pois (Polka
Dot Jersey).
Although the Best Climber Category (King of the Mountains) had
been in place since 1933, it was not until 1975 that the organizers
awarded a distinctive jersey to the best climber. Poulain Chocolates
sponsored the first Maillot Pois (Polka Dot Jersey). The French
candy company wanted increased public exposure for its products
and jumped at the chance to sponsor a Tour jersey. The white
jersey with red polka dots was chosen for the sponsor’s
distinctive candy bar wrapper. Over the years the Polka Dot Jersey
has become the second most recognizable jersey in all of cycling.
Belgian Lucien Van Impe, who also finished third in the General
(overall) Classification in 1975, won the first ever Maillot
Pois (Polka Dot Jersey).
The Best
Climber Prize:
1933 Vicente Trueba (Spa)
1934 Rene Vietto (Fra)
1935 Felicien Vervaecke (Bel)
1936 Julien Berrendero (Spa)
1937 Felicien Vervaecke (Bel)
1938 Gino Bartali (Ita)
1939 Sylvere Maes (Bel)
1940-46 Not held
1947 Pierre Brambilla (Ita)
1948 Gino Bartali (Ita)
1949 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
1950 Louison Bobet (Fra)
1951 Raphael Geminiani (Fra)
1952 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
1953 Jesus Lorono (Spa)
1954 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1955 Charly Gaul (Lux)
1956 Charly Gaul (Lux)
1957 Gastone Nencini (Ita)
1958 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1959 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1960 Imerio Massignan (Ita)
1961 Imerio Massignan (Ita)
1962 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1963 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1964 Federico Bahamontes (Spa)
1965 Julio Jiminez (Spa)
1966 Julio Jiminez (Spa)
1967 Julio Jiminez (Spa)
1968 Aurelio Gonzalez (Spa)
1969 Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1970 Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1971 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1972 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1973 Pedro Torres (Spa)
1974 Domingo Perurena (Spa)
Maillot Pois
(Polka Dot Jersey) winners:
1975 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1976 Giancarlo Bellini (Ita)
1977 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1978 Mariano Martinez (Fra)
1979 Giovanni Battaglin (Ita)
1980 Raymond Martin (Fra)
1981 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1982 Bernard Vallet (Fra)
1983 Lucien Van Impe (Bel)
1984 Robert Millar (GBr)
1985 Luis Herrera (Col)
1986 Bernard Hinault (Fra)
1987 Luis Herrera (Col)
1988 Stephen Rooks (Hol)
1989 Gert-Jan Theunisse (Hol)
1990 Thierry Claveyrolat (Fra)
1991 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)
1992 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)
1993 Tony Rominger (Sui)
1994 Richard Virenque (Fra)
1995 Richard Virenque (Fra)
1996 Richard Virenque (Fra)
1997 Richard Virenque (Fra)
1998 Christophe Rinero (Fra)
1999 Richard Virenque (Fra)
2000 Santiago Botero (Col)
2001 Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
2002 Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
2003 Richard Virenque (Fra)
2004 Richard Virenque (Fra) .
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