Who won the first Tour de France points classification in 1953?

Fritz Schär won the first Tour de France points classification in 1953.

The classification was introduced in its modern form during the Tour’s 50th-anniversary edition. It was designed to give sprinters and consistent stage finishers a separate contest from the overall race for the yellow jersey. Schär became its inaugural winner and was also the first rider to wear the green jersey associated with the competition.

The 1953 system differed from today’s points scoring. Riders received points according to their finishing position, with the stage winner receiving one point, the next rider two, and so on. The rider with the fewest accumulated points led the classification. This method echoed the general-classification scoring used in early Tours from 1905 to 1912.

Schär led the classification on the opening day and finished the race ahead of the field. Louison Bobet won the overall Tour, while Jesús Loroño won the mountains classification. Wout Wagtmans, one of the listed alternatives, won the combativity competition rather than the points classification, which is why the categories can be confused.