I am confused about how stage points fit into GC rankings. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Classification), "it is possible to win the GC without winning even one stage of a multi-stage race. It is even possible to win the GC of the race without being the GC leader on any stage before the last stage of the race."

So the GC leader/winner isn't necessarily the overall points leader/winner, correct? I was hoping Versus would get a little more in depth about the race scoring system beyond overall individual time, but so far I haven't seen any. I appreciate any clarification on this.

Thanks,
Scotch

no points for GC just time.

time to buy this:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/5168JSE6VVL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Tour-France-Dummies-Sports-Hobbies/dp/0764584499)

Apparently this book contains "secrets of the podium girls." Think I'll pass. Nice flame.

if i was trying to "flame" you, you'd know it.

Ok, killer. I'm shaking over here.

I am confused about how stage points fit into GC rankings. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Classification), "it is possible to win the GC without winning even one stage of a multi-stage race. It is even possible to win the GC of the race without being the GC leader on any stage before the last stage of the race."

So the GC leader/winner isn't necessarily the overall points leader/winner, correct? I was hoping Versus would get a little more in depth about the race scoring system beyond overall individual time, but so far I haven't seen any. I appreciate any clarification on this.

Thanks,
Scotch

Points refers to the sprinting points awarded at variouse points along a stage and at the end of flat stages. The rider with the most points wins the green jersey. The daily points leader rides with the green jersey.

A similar contest is for the King of the Mountain polka dot jersey.

There's a white jersey for the best under-25 yrs. old rider.

There's also a daily prize for the most aggressive rider but I'm not sure how they determine that. Probably the rider that spends the most time on a breakaway.

Points refers to the sprinting points awarded at variouse points along a stage and at the end of flat stages. The rider with the most points wins the green jersey. The daily points leader rides with the green jersey.

A similar contest is for the King of the Mountain polka dot jersey.

There's a white jersey for the best under-25 yrs. old rider.

There's also a daily prize for the most aggressive rider but I'm not sure how they determine that. Probably the rider that spends the most time on a breakaway.

GC Elapsed time minus bonus time.
Bonus time of 20-12-8 secs for top three of each non-TT stage.
Bonus of 6-4-2 sec at each stage intermediate sprint point.

GC Elapsed time minus bonus time.
Bonus time of 20-12-8 secs for top three of each non-TT stage.
Bonus of 6-4-2 sec at each stage intermediate sprint point.

Thank you. One of the best answers I've seen in a while. I seem to recall an old Coors Classic or was it a Red Zinger tour in Colorado where the GC winner never even got to the top three in a stage.

Apparently this book contains "secrets of the podium girls." Think I'll pass. Nice flame.
'TdF for Dummies' is a very good book -- I recommend it, too. Also check out 'Lance Armstrong's War,' '23 Days in July,' and 'Chasing Lance' to show how the whole Tour works. But if you're looking for a good tutorial on just the Tour and its inner workings, TdF for Dummies is the way to go.

I am confused about how stage points fit into GC rankings. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Classification), "it is possible to win the GC without winning even one stage of a multi-stage race. It is even possible to win the GC of the race without being the GC leader on any stage before the last stage of the race."

So the GC leader/winner isn't necessarily the overall points leader/winner, correct? I was hoping Versus would get a little more in depth about the race scoring system beyond overall individual time, but so far I haven't seen any. I appreciate any clarification on this.

Thanks,
Scotch

A fair pop of half right information so far. Try this link:

http://www.cvccbike.com/tour/eddy/xtra.htm

It gets to explainations of all the major prizes, including some not mentioned so far.

The Wiki link you gave is just cr@p. Listing riders famous for Tour GC wins and omiting all French riders is absurd. Hinault and Anquetil deserve better.

no points for GC just time.



True, although there are time bonuses for winning certain sprints and for winning a stage. Those time bonuses are given to you as a "minus" from your overall time. So if you win a stage and finish in 4 hrs 10 minutes and 30 seconds, your time will be 4 hrs 10 minutes and 10 seconds because you'll get a 20 second bonus for winning. HOWEVER, if you also were the first to pass some sprint points along the stage route that have time bonuses, you can also get those bonus seconds too. This happened to Floyd Landis on stage 17 last year. I think he got 12 seconds of intermediate time bonuses.

It is even possible to win the GC of the race without being the GC leader on any stage before the last stage of the race.


As others have said, time bonuses can put you in yellow without ever actually winning a stage.

This is really a non-issue in practice in the TDF. Time bonuses will often put a sprinting specialist in yellow during the first week but by the time the race hits the mountains the time bonuses become much less of a factor as bigger time gaps start to open up.

The last statement "on any stage before the last stage of the race." really doesn't apply to the Tour De France. If you're trying to sprint for the GC win on the ride into Paris you're likely to get a punch in the gut. By tradition it's a ceremonial ride for the GC winner and the peloton lets the sprint specialists battle for the stage win.

As others have said, time bonuses can put you in yellow without ever actually winning a stage.

This is really a non-issue in practice in the TDF. Time bonuses will often put a sprinting specialist in yellow during the first week but by the time the race hits the mountains the time bonuses become much less of a factor as bigger time gaps start to open up.

The last statement "on any stage before the last stage of the race." really doesn't apply to the Tour De France. If you're trying to sprint for the GC win on the ride into Paris you're likely to get a punch in the gut. By tradition it's a ceremonial ride for the GC winner and the peloton lets the sprint specialists battle for the stage win.

Two years ago it was Vino trailed Levi by 2 seconds going into stage 5 for 5th place. Vino picked up 4 seconds in intermediate time bonus at the first sprint point to Levi's 2 seconds so going into Paris Vino led on the next time breaker which came to cumulative times in TT. Since it was pouring and several of Lance
s teamate crashed, officials stopped the race clock in the interest of safety so no time gap existed that Levi might have used short of beating Vino in the top 3 to get that 5th place. Vino won the stage to get a 20 second edge.

Made a difference of over 6 figures in prize money.
Sprint stage: http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/2100/classement/IPE.html
GC final: http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/2100/classement/ITG.html


Last years week long Eneco tour, Hincapie was set to make up his deficit with a second to Schumakers third but a fan caused the two to contact with neither getting the bonus and Schumacher getting the Tour

something


Er, what?

I am confused about how stage points fit into GC rankings...: "it is possible to win the GC without winning even one stage of a multi-stage race... "

Time bonuses and such are interesting, but there is a simple way for this to occur: Imagine a rider comes in second in every stage, but each stage is won by a different rider. The first rider's overall time will almost undoubtedly be lower than everyone elses.

Two years ago it was Vino trailed Levi by 2 seconds going into stage 5 for 5th place. Vino picked up 4 seconds in intermediate time bonus at the first sprint point to Levi's 2 seconds so going into Paris Vino led on the next time breaker which came to cumulative times in TT. Since it was pouring and several of Lance
s teamate crashed, officials stopped the race clock in the interest of safety so no time gap existed that Levi might have used short of beating Vino in the top 3 to get that 5th place. Vino won the stage to get a 20 second edge.

Made a difference of over 6 figures in prize money.
Sprint stage: http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/2100/classement/IPE.html
GC final: http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/2100/classement/ITG.html


Last years week long Eneco tour, Hincapie was set to make up his deficit with a second to Schumakers third but a fan caused the two to contact with neither getting the bonus and Schumacher getting the Tour

In last year's TdF, Hincapie picked off an intermediate sprint time bonus to get the Yellow jersey.