What every jersey color means at the Giro d’Italia 2018
By Zach Bigalke
Maglia Ciclamino: The cyclamen jersey of the points classification
The maglia ciclamino is to the Giro d’Italia what the maillot vert is to the Tour de France. The cyclamen jersey, a shade of purple closer to red, is awarded to the winner of the points classification. This aggregates points collected from finishing in the front on each stage.
Until the 1960s, there was no points classification at the Giro d’Italia. It first came into existence in 1958 for a single year, without any affiliated jersey. Operating under an arcane system, the classification fell out of existence after that one attempt. For nearly a decade, there was no further attempt to generate a new points system.
Finally, in 1966 the points classification returned as a permanent fixture of the Giro d’Italia. While the green jersey at the Tour has traditionally been dominated by sprinters, the maglia ciclamino is more frequently captured by general classification contenders. Two-time maglia rosa winner Giuseppe Saronni and 1984 overall champion Francesco Moser each won the points classification four times in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Sprinters have had their chances at the award, however. Three-time maglia ciclamino winner Mario Cipollini was the epitome of the classic Italian sprint specialist. Riding behind a breakout train, Cipollini won a record 42 Giro d’Italia stage victories but infamously lagged behind on mountain stages.
Last year’s winner, Fernando Gaviria, will not be in this year’s field at the start in Jerusalem. Instead, two-time points classification winner Giacomo Nizzolo will try to make it three in four years.