Why is the purple jersey of the Giro d'Italia called Maglia Ciclamino?

The Giro d'Italia is not only distinguished by the iconic maglia rosa. The great Italian tour also features one of the most recognizable and peculiar jerseys in world cycling, the Maglia Ciclamino, the jersey that identifies the leader of the points classification and which in 2026 will again be one of the major objectives for sprinters and the most consistent riders in the peloton.

The History of the Maglia Ciclamino, the Most Peculiar Jersey of the Giro

Although many fans simply know it as “the purple jersey of the Giro”, it has not always been this color and its name has a very specific origin deeply linked to Italy. The term “ciclamino” refers to the cyclamen, a flower in fuchsia and violet tones that is very popular in the transalpine country. That intense color was precisely chosen to differentiate the regularity classification and ended up becoming one of the most recognizable images of the race.

The points classification of the Giro officially began in 1958, although the concept of rewarding regularity had existed since the early years of the event. In those early editions of the Giro, between 1909 and 1913, the final winner was decided precisely by a points system and not by accumulated times as is the case today.

RECOMENDADO

A draft of the UCI MTB 2027 calendar has been leaked. A World Cup XCO in Spain?

Movistar secures Iván Romeo until 2030 and ensures one of the great jewels of Spanish cycling

Over €2,000 for winning an intermediate sprint and over €10,000 for winning the stage: all the prize money for the 2026 Giro

Specialized Epic 9: Models, weight and prices for the entire new range

We tested the new Pirelli P Zero Race TLR SL-R: the fastest and most aerodynamic tire ever made by the brand

Q36.5 is developing an aero full suit with an integrated hydration bag

However, the Maglia Ciclamino as a distinctive jersey did not appear consistently until the late sixties. Since then, it has become the symbol of sprinters and riders capable of consistently accumulating points in mass finishes, intermediate sprints, and mid-stage points.

The original color accompanied the Giro for decades, from 1970 to 2009, although later the organization decided to replace it with a red jersey between 2010 and 2016. That change never fully convinced a good part of the fans or the historical environment of the race, so in 2017 the Giro definitively recovered the traditional cyclamen tone that is maintained today.

Unlike the general classification, where time determines the leader, the Maglia Ciclamino is based on the sum of points obtained in each stage. This allows sprinters to have a significant goal of their own even in a race dominated by climbers and general classification contenders. Sprint finishes usually award the most points, although there are also bonuses at intermediate sprints distributed throughout the route.

The history of the jersey is also filled with great specialists. Francesco Moser and Giuseppe Saronni remain the cyclists who have conquered this classification the most times, both with four titles. Following them are historical names like Roger De Vlaeminck and Mario Cipollini, absolute references of the sprint in different eras of the Giro.

In 2026, the Maglia Ciclamino will once again play a huge role thanks to a route full of opportunities for sprinters. Beyond the color or tradition, it continues to represent one of the most spectacular and open battles of the Italian race.