The competition is usually divided in three stages: the traditional Taça Guanabara, Taça Rio and the Finals.The winners of Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio compete in the two-legged Finals of Campeonato Carioca, and the winner is crowned tournament champion. If the same team wins both the Taça Guanabara and the Taça Rio, it is automatically crowned tournament champion rendering Finals unnecessary.