The leader is indicated by a green jersey (French: maillot vert), which has become a metonym for the points classification competition.

The system has inspired many other cycling races; the other two Grand Tours have also installed points classifications: the Vuelta a España since 1955, also using a green jersey, and the Giro d'Italia since 1966.

The points classification is widely thought of as the "sprinter's competition", since the most points are scored in flat stages, in which the riders generally remain together in one large peloton, leaving the best sprinters at the end to fight for the stage win.

[3] However, to win the competition a rider will need a reasonable level of all-round skills as well as strong sprinting, since he will need to finish within the time limit on mountain stages to remain in contention, and ideally will be able to contest intermediate sprints during mountain stages as well.

For example, Mario Cipollini was one of the best pure sprinters of his era but was never in contention for the points classification because he was unwilling to make it through the mountain stages and finish the race (however, he did finish the Giro d'Italia and won its points classification several times).

The jersey gained its green colour from its first sponsor, La Belle Jardinière, a French clothing store.

At the end of the Tour de France, the cyclist leading the points classification is the winner of the green jersey.

Mark Cavendish has the largest gap between wins; 10 years separating his first and second green jerseys.

Media related to Points classification in the Tour de France at Wikimedia Commons