rygreen

After thinking about it, it seems to me like the polka-dot jersey for "king of the mountains" is kind of a booby prize. It's not for the best climber, it's for the best climber that isn't a threat in the GC. On the one hand, the polka-dot leader can definitely go up hills really well. On the other hand, he has to be bad enough everywhere else for the leaders to let him go when he breaks away. Thoughts?

Laggard

There have been riders with both the yellow and polka dot.

rygreen

Right, but we probably won't see that anytime soon. There isn't anyone that dominant anymore. Well, let me adjust that statement. If there were anyone that dominant, he would still probably not attack relentlessly enough to win KoM, knowing that he might be throwing away his chances for the GC win.

Laggard

It would be tough. Someone like Lance would have to have a team that allowed no one to get away on the climbs and then he would have to be strong enough to sprint for the points.

Kaiser

I think the last rider to hold both the polka-dot and yellow jersey at the end of a TdF was Eddie Merckx in 1970.

As for attitude, of course the Cannibal was notorious for his take-no-prisoners stance. He criticized his good friend Lance about letting the late Pantani win a mountain stage a few years back. Merckx is old school hard!

Iron Chef

Whoa, if I am reading this right, in 1969 he won the yellow, poka-dot and green jerseys. Has anybody else ever done that?

Laggard

He was the first and last. It's one of the more amazing feats in cycling history.

Csson

And, being born in 1945, he obviously would have won the white jersey as well had there been one...

With the new rules this year (double points on the last climb if it is 1C or HC) the KoM is weighted towards the GC contenders and Virenque will need at least one more all-day breakaway to secure it, since he won't be anywhere near the front on the finishing big climbs anymore. The only difference between the points competition and the mountain competition (none of which is usually won by the GC winner) is that the later has more points spread out during the stage. If all prizes lay at the end of the stage I don't see why anyone would be interested to launch a 200k breakaway like today. The KoM (like the points competition) is a great motivator for non-GC riders and I don't see anything wrong with that.

/Csson

brent_dube

I noticed the last climb today gave double points, and it was only cat 2.

Allen H

I think you've got it about right - it's a consolation for non-GC contenders now.

And it LOOKS like a booby prize, too - kind of a "clown jersey" is what I thought when I first saw it on the Tour a few years ago (as a complete newbie).

TXCiclista

I dunno. I think in some respects it's similar to the Green and white jersey. I would think of it less as a consolation prize as a prize for a particular specialization. The yellow jersey *should* be for the best overall. The KoM and Sprinter's jerseys are for those who show some serious skills in a particular aspect but don't necessarily have it for the GC. Maybe they don't TT well, maybe their team sucks, etc. For exaple, Lance has NO chance of ever coming close to a Green jersey. He doesn't even really have a chance for the KoM unless he gives up on the Yellow jersey. It's rare that someone can lock down 2 jerseys. I think they add some added suspense to the race

Smoothie104

They doubled the points on the last climb of the day, in order to avoid it being too much of a Boobie prize. Leading all day, and getting caught before the final climb used the be the order of the day, now with double points on the last climb, The Jersey may go to a GC contender this year.

RacerX

Let's see... cycling imortality as one of the few winners of the KOM, Points, Yellow, YoungRider and stage winner OR naw, it's a "booby prize"...hmmmmmmmm

When any victory in the TDF can make you an instant star, a confirmed champion or immortal legend - all forever part of the history of the greatest bike race in the world, there is no booby prize.

SteveE

C'mon now, RacerX, who cares about any of the jerseys if it's not being won by an American?

Devil

Certainly not me. Chiappucci who?

TXCiclista

I doubt it. My money's on Virenque again

Devil

I am picking Mayo or Virenque.

brent_dube

So youre saying that we should glorify any TDF related prize, no matter how superficial?

RacerX

Yeah the KOM jersey is superficial

Devil

How is the maillot pois superficial?

RacerX

Maybe brent dube can fill us in...

Laggard

Brent knows all. Some people disagree just to disagree.

The fact is that both the green and polka dot jerseys are prestigious wins. Superficial? Give me a break.

SteveE

Heck! I wouldn't diss anyone who even made a TdF squad, much less won a jersey! Even finishing the race is worthy of our respect.

RacerX

Being able to even start, much less finish requires the cream of the crop to be at their best. Totally agree with you SteveE, they are out there working their hearts out. If you've never ridden with a DIV 1 team it's so difficult to understand how fast they are riding.

A training ride with them is just too much for 99% of all riders out there- and then there is racing... you cannot comprehend the speed required as just the price of admission into these ranks.

SteveE

RacerX,

Absolutely! I ride in a club ride that has some Pro's riding in it on occasion. They're awesome riders but aren't even DIV I, fer cryin' out loud! My mind boggles at the thought of what even the lowest domestique in the TdF is capable of. Shoot! Look at Chris Horner, arguably the best domestic rider in the U.S., I don't think he's ever made it onto a TdF squad.

Anyone who demeans this racers by calling the jerseys "booby" prizes certainly hasn't ever tried to ride with anyone of this caliber.

SteveE