Originally there was only the yellow jersey competition but to generate more overall interest by sponsors,riders and the general public they created "secondary" jerseys (green-points ,polka dot-mountains ,combination-now defunct and white-best young rider)
The points jersey is intended to reward the best sprinter but controversy has followed it because one can win it by consistency without ever proving to be the fastest man.
The exact points system has evolved over time to try to compensate for this with maximum points(35) and places (25) being reserved for the flattest stages with fewer given once the course points upward.
There are also intermediate sprints but these are more a reward given to breakaways and being very few points( 3,2,1) allotted rarely pursued,except to hammer home a point-no pun intended, by the true sprinters.
At the end of the tour whoever has accrued the most points gets the Green Jersey.Unlike the Yellow, time doesn't factor into it.
In the before time a guy like Sean Kelly could win without a team but now placement in sprints is largely determined by your leadout men.
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