Vuelta: Red, Green, Dotted & White explained - the rules of the Tour of Spain
Thomas Goldmann
· 16.08.2022
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Red jersey
The red jersey at the Vuelta is the equivalent of the yellow jersey at the Tour de France and the Maglia Rosa at the Giro d'Italia. The rider leading the overall standings at the Vuelta receives the red jersey. In other words, the rider with the lowest overall time after adding up all the stages - including bonuses and time penalties.
In the event of two riders finishing in the same time, the hundredths of a second from the individual time trials will be taken into account first. If there is still no decision, the positions at the end of the individual stages of the Vuelta are added together - the rider with the lower number wins. If there is still no winner, the position at the finish of the last stage counts.
Time bonuses
On each mass start stage, time credits of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded at the finish for the first three riders in the daily classification. On mass start stages, 3, 2 and 1 seconds are also credited for the first three riders at intermediate sprints or certain mountain classifications.
These bonus seconds are awarded at intermediate sprints on stages 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 21 and at the following mountain classifications:
- Stage 4: Puerto de Herrera (3rd category)
- Stage 5: Alto del Vivero (2nd category - second crossing)
- Stage 6: Collada de Brenes (1st category)
- Stage 8: Puerto de Tenebreo (3rd category)
- Stage 9: La Campa (3rd category)
- Stage 14: Puerto de Los Villares (2nd category)
- Stage 15: Alto del Purche (1st category)
- Stage 18: Alto de Piornal (1st category - first crossing)
- Stage 20: Puerto de la Morcuera (1st category)
Three-kilometre rule
With this rule (see article 2.6.027 of the UCI regulations), riders who crash or have a defect in the last three kilometres of a stage are spared on mass start stages. These riders are given the same time as the group they were in at the time of the mishap. The three-kilometre rule applies to stages 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21 at the 2022 Vuelta
Measurement of time intervals
On stages 2, 3, 7, 11, 13 and 21, groups with a gap of up to three seconds will be counted with the same time (see also UCI protocol for stages with expected bunch sprint). On all other stages of the 2022 Vuelta, a new time will be taken from one second onwards.
The green jersey
Just like in the Tour de France, the rider leading the points classification in the Vuelta is awarded the green jersey. Points can be collected at intermediate sprints and at the finish of each stage.
How does the points classification work at the Vuelta?
Points are awarded to the first 15 riders at the daily finish (with the exception of the team time trial on stage one). Points can also be scored at intermediate sprints. Depending on the type and difficulty of the stage, each stage is assigned to a group from 1 to 6. Accordingly, there are different numbers of points to be scored at the daily finish.
The distribution of points on the stages of the 2022 Vuelta
Group 1: Stages 2, 3, 13, 16 and 21
- 50 points
- 30 points
- 20 points
- 18 points
- 16 points
- 14 points
- 12 points
- 10 points
- 8 points
- 7 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
Group 2 and 3: Stages 4, 5, 7, 11, 17 and 19
- 30 points
- 25 points
- 22 points
- 19 points
- 17 points
- 15 points
- 13 points
- 11 points
- 9 points
- 7 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
Group 4 and 5: Stages 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 20
- 20 points
- 17 points
- 15 points
- 13 points
- 11 points
- 10 points
- 9 points
- 8 points
- 7 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
Group 6: Stage 10 (individual time trial)
- 20 points
- 17 points
- 15 points
- 13 points
- 11 points
- 10 points
- 9 points
- 8 points
- 7 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
Intermediate sprints
There will be an intermediate sprint on every stage of the 2022 Vuelta (except for the individual and team time trial). The first five riders at the intermediate sprint receive points for the green jersey - the points key:
- 20 points
- 17 points
- 15 points
- 13 points
- 10 points
The mountain jersey
The jersey for the best climber in the Vuelta has dots on a white background, just like in the Tour de France. However, the dots in the Tour of Spain are blue and not red as in France.
The jersey is awarded to the rider who has collected the most points on the individual climbs. The climbs are divided into different categories depending on their level of difficulty and sporting prestige. The points for the mountain jersey are awarded accordingly. The highest category - the equivalent of the Hors Categorie in the Tour de France - in the Tour of Spain is the Cima Alberto Fernandez ("Especial" category). There is only one mountain classification in this category at the Vuelta 2022, on stage 15 to Hoya de la Mora.
The points key for the mountain classification
Especial" category - Cima Alberto Fernandez
- 20 points
- 15 points
- 10 points
- 6 points
- 4 points
- 2 points
1st category
- 10 points
- 6 points
- 4 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
2nd category
- 5 points
- 3 points
- 1 point
3rd category
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
4th category
- 2 points
- 1 point
The white jersey
The white jersey at the Vuelta is worn by the best-placed young rider in the individual overall classification by time. All athletes born after 1 January 1997 will be eligible for the young pro classification in 2022.
The team ranking
The leading team in the team classification wears red start numbers. To determine the team classification, the riding times of the three best riders of each team are added together.
Most combative driver
The most combative rider of the previous stage wears the yellow back number. A jury of technical directors chaired by the race director selects three riders on each mass start stage to be considered for the prize of the most combative rider. The spectators can then vote for their favourite (by telephone or online). The rider with the most votes wins.
In the event of a tie, the race director will decide on the most combative rider of the day. In Madrid, on the last day of the race, the jury will choose the most combative rider of the entire Vuelta.
The time limit at the Vuelta
The maximum gap that a rider can allow himself to be behind the stage winner at the finish of a stage is called the time limit or grace time: depending on the coefficient of a stage (see image below), based on the length, difficulty and pace of the stage winner, a percentage mark-up on the winner's riding time determines how much more time the last riders on a stage are allowed to take - otherwise they risk disqualification.
The coefficients of the 2022 Vuelta
The percentage mark-ups for the individual coefficients
Example for calculating the waiting time at the Vuelta
Stage 15 of the 2022 Vuelta serves as an assumption - a difficult day in the mountains with arrival at an altitude of over 2500 metres. Assuming the stage is ridden at an average speed of 38 km/h by the winner, it would take him 4 hours and 1 minute (i.e. 241 minutes - see the table below for calculated average speeds).
The stage has difficulty level 5, which means that at an average speed of 38 km/h, a rider receives 18 per cent of the winning time as a grace period (see figure percentage mark-ups). In this case, he would therefore receive 18 per cent of 241 minutes (the winning time). That is 43.23 minutes, which would be the time limit on this day.
The calculated average speeds and times of the stages
Stage 1: Start last team 19:58, estimated finish last team: 20:22
Stage 2: Start: 13:32, Finish: 46 km/h 17:20, 44 km/h 17:30, 42 km/h 17:42
Stage 3: Start: 12:52, Finish: 46 km/ 17:04, 44 km/h 17:15, 42 km/h 17:28
Stage 4: Start: 13:53, Finish: 44 km/h 17:20, 42 km/h 17:30, 40 km/h 17:41
Stage 5: Start: 12:57, Finish: 43 km/h 17:18, 41 km/h 17:30, 39 km/h 17:45
Stage 6: Start: 12:37, Finish: 39 km/h 17:15, 37 km/h 17:30, 35 km/h 17:47
Stage 7: Start: 12:30, Finish: 40 km/h 17:15, 38 km/h 17:30, 36 km/h 17:46
Stage 8: Start: 13:28, Finish: 40 km/h 17:18, 38 km/h 17:30, 36 km/h 17:43
Stage 9: Start: 12:53, Finish: 39 km/h 17:16, 37 km/h 17:30, 35 km/h 17:46
Stage 10: Start: Start last rider: 16:55, estimated finish last rider: 17:30
Stage 11: Start: 12:51, Finish: 43 km/h 17:17, 41 km/h 17:30, 39 km/h 17:45
Stage 12: Start: 12:34, Finish: 41 km/h 17:15, 39 km/h 17:30, 37 km/h 17:46
Stage 13: Start: 13:36, Finish: 45 km/h 17:20, 43 km/h 17:30, 41 km/h 17:42
Stage 14: Start: 13:17, Finish: 40 km/h 17:17, 38 km/h 17:30, 36 km/h 17:44
Stage 15: Start: 13:16, Finish: 38 km/h 17:17, 36 km/h 17:30, 34 km/h 17:45
Stage 16: Start: 13:00, Finish: 44 km/h 17:18, 42 km/h 17:30, 40 km/h 17:44
Stage 17: Start: 13:21, Finish: 41 km/h 17:18, 39 km/h 17:30, 37 km/h 17:44
Stage 18: Start: 12:19, Finish: 39 km/h 17:14, 37 km/h 17:30, 35 km/h 17:48
Stage 19: Start: 14:03, Finish: 42 km/h 17:20, 40 km/h 17:30, 38 km/h 17:41
Stage 20: Start: 12:45, Finish: 40 km/h 17:16, 38 km/h 17:30, 36 km/h 17:46
Stage 21: Start: 17:26, Finish: 40 km/h 19:51, 38 km/h 19:58, 36 km/h 20:07
Preview of the stages of the Vuelta
Numerous top cycling stars will be competing in the 2022 Vuelta. TOUR has created an overview of the line-ups of the 23 teams.
