The Tour de France is considered THE cycling race of the world. Every July since 1903, millions of cycling fans have followed the race, which takes place over almost 20 stages through France’s mountains and valleys. But did you know that the Tour de France jerseys play a not insignificant role?
To the uninitiated, it may look as if the athletes are simply wearing colorful tops with the logos of their sponsors. But that’s not the case at all. Not only, at least. Thanks to the different colors and patterns, spectators can tell exactly which athlete is in which position in the race.
In this article, we reveal exactly which jerseys there are for the Tour de France and what they actually stand for.
The most desirable jersey at the Tour de France is yellow – and probably also the best known. The ”Maillot Jaune“ has been awarded to the current leader in the overall standings since 1919. It can therefore change hands several times during the Tour de France. This also makes it the ultimate symbol of success in the Tour de France. If a rider wears the yellow jersey, it means that he has achieved the lowest overall time of all (previous) stages.
In the Tour de France, the riders not only have to cycle over hilly terrain, but also over flat areas. And this is where they can really step on the gas and make up time. And collect points in the process. This is exactly what the green jersey. The “Maillot Vert” is awarded to the best sprinter at the end of each stage. The “best” in this case is the cyclist with the most points.
In the Tour de France, the first 15 riders to cross the finish line receive points. Flat stages give more points to motivate the riders to sprint. Certain finish points on a stage offer additional points (intermediate sprints are inserted here to reach them as quickly as possible).
Since 1953, the green jersey has been awarded to the rider with the most points, i.e. the fastest sprinter in the peloton. It is therefore also a sign of speed, agility and tactical cleverness in the peloton.
The dotted jersey- white with red dots – goes to the best climber in the Tour. It is also known as the “King of the Mountains jersey”.
Points are awarded on the mountain classifications based on various factors such as gradient and length of the climb, with more difficult climbs earning more points. If a stage ends at the summit of a mountain or climb, the rider even receives twice as many points. The riders who reach the summit first receive even more points.
Since 1933, the rider with the most points in this category has been allowed to wear the polka-dot jersey. The “Mailot á Pois Rouges” therefore symbolizes the “climbing skills” of a cyclist. But it is actually more than just a jersey. It symbolizes the rider’s willpower and physical strength.
The white jersey is awarded to the best young rider under the age of 25. Similar to the yellow jersey, the award is based on overall time, but only for young riders. The Maillot Blanc is an indicator of future stars in cycling.
It can also happen that a rider is the leader in several classifications and therefore owns several jerseys at the same time. In this case, he always wears the jersey with the highest value. If a rider is allowed to wear the yellow and green jersey, he would wear the yellow jersey and the person with the second-highest ranking would wear the green jersey. The order of jerseys from highest priority to lowest is: yellow, green, dotted, white.
In addition to these four main jerseys, there are some special jerseys and colored start numbers that also have a meaning.
As you can see, the Tour de France jerseys are far more than just colorful clothing. They not only represent success, but also the specialties and abilities of the individual riders who are allowed to wear them. Whether it’s speed, endurance, climbing skills or the up-and-coming young riders – every jersey tells a story.
