The Tour de France is the greatest cycling tournament in the world and the one that all professional cyclists want to win. It has such prestige, that even attracts the attention of sports fans with only a passing interest in cycling, who tune in to witness world-class athletes' remarkable athleticism and endurance across the magnificent French landscape. But many people do not know how the race actually works, and what the various milestones fully mean. In particular, many don’t know how it works when it comes to the coloured jersey.
Every cyclist will wear their team jersey, and four cyclists will be awarded specific Tour de France coloured jerseys. These colours include yellow (maillot jaune), green (maillot vert), red polka dots (maillot à pois rouges), and white (maillot blanc)- all of these jerseys have their own meaning and importance.
Here’s a summary of what each Tour de France jersey colour means:
Yellow Jersey
The Yellow Jersey, known in French as the maillot jaune, is the most prized jersey in the race, as it designates the rider that is leading General Classification (overall leader). Officials will calculate the fastest rider across the entire race after each stage, and the jersey then goes to the overall leader. The rider who wins the yellow jersey will then wear it in the following stage. The Yellow Jersey is based on time and not points, which means that this jersey doesn’t necessarily go to the given day’s stage winner, but to the overall leader.
The contenders for this coveted jersey are all-rounders in their cycling ability, smart tacticians and skilled in both climbing and time trialling. More than this though, they must demonstrate the necessary physical strength to hold the pace of the peloton, as rival teams work together to oust the leader at every possible opportunity.
Green Jersey
This jersey, commonly known as the “sprinter’s jersey,” is awarded to the Points Classification leader. Points are awarded according to the difficulty of the stage; whether it's flat or mountainous, for example. The winners are typically the first ten to 25 riders who cross a stage finish, as the most points are traditionally gained at the end of the flatter stages (a stage where the sprinters shine). So, despite the sprinter’s tag, the green jersey will ultimately be awarded to a consistent and well-rounded rider and to those that demonstrate persistence, picking up points whenever they can.
Red Polka Dot Jersey
Otherwise known as King of the Mountains, the Red Polka dot Jersey is awarded to the Mountains Classification leader. In this contest, points are awarded to the first riders who reach the summit of designated climbs on each stage. Climbs in the Tour de France are ranked in category: from category 1 (most difficult) to category 4 (least difficult). The fifth class is so difficult that it is called hors catégorie (“beyond category”), as it is reserved for the most challenging ascents. The difficulty of each climb is determined by the number of points awarded; however, some shorter or milder climbs will be classified in a higher category if they come a the end of a stage.
White Jersey
The White Jersey (maillot blanc) rewards younger riders, as it is given to the General Classification leader who is 25 years old or younger (on January 1, in any given race year). This rider has the lowest overall time for riders under 25 years, so for young riders, there is almost as much prestige in winning the white jersey s in winning the yellow jersey.
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