red dots tour de france

Follow the Tour on the official app!

Official games.

2023 Edition

Stage winners
All the videos

Tour Culture

Sporting Stakes
All the rankings
Come to the Tour
Broadcasters
Commitments
The jerseys
"Maillot Jaune" Collection
Key figures

POLKA DOT JERSEY

Symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage, the red polka dot jersey , which is sponsored by E.Leclerc, is awarded to the Tour de France’s leader of the best climber classification. Although this classification was introduced in 1933, its symbol, the polka dot jersey, appeared in 1975, which was also the year the Tour first finished on the Champs-Élysées and was won by Bernard Thévenet. It owes its appearance to track racing specialist Henri Lemoine, who competed between the 1930s and 1950s, and that Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour with Jacques Goddetwhich, had particularly noticed. While Belgium’s Lucien Van Impe was its first winner and claimed the mountains classification six times, just like his illustrious predecessor, Spain’s Federico Bahamontes, the so-called “Eagle of Toledo”, Frenchman Richard Virenque holds the record for victories with seven titles.

Accreditations

Tour de France jerseys: Yellow, green, white and polka dot explained

We explain what the yellow, green, polka dot and white jerseys worn by riders in the Tour de France represent

The 2023 Tour de France podium with Jonas Vingegaard (in yellow), Jasper Philipsen (in green), Giulio Ciccone (in the polka dots), and Tadej Pogačar (in white)

Yellow jersey
Green jersey
Polka dot jersey
White jersey
Other classifications

The Tour de France sees the very best cyclists in the world battle it out for the yellow, green, white and polka dot jerseys, based on the general, points, mountains and young rider classifications.

The jersey for each category is awarded to the leader of that classification at the end of every stage, and the recipient earns the right to wear it during the following day's racing. When a rider has the lead in multiple classifications, the yellow jersey is prioritised, then green, the polka dot, and white - the next person on the ranking wears the kit in the leader's stead.

Here we take a brief look at what they are and how they are won.

Jonas Vingegaard time trials at the 2022 Tour de France

Tour de France yellow jersey - GC leader

Also called the maillot jaune , the Tour de France yellow jersey is the most coveted piece of kit in professional cycling. The wearer is the rider who has completed the race in the least amount of time, and as such tops the overall or general classification (GC) of the race.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) dominated the GC in 2020 and 2021, wearing the yellow jersey almost throughout the 2021 edition, before Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) took it off him halfway through the 2022 race, wearing it until the end of the race. He went on to win it again in 2023.

Before that, in 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to finish in Paris in the Yellow Jersey - with Chris Froome following up in 2013, 2015-2017. Geraint Thomas took the 2018 race, becoming the third British rider to win the race.

The yellow jersey is sponsored by LCL, a French bank, and it is yellow, because the Tour's original organiser, L'Auto , was a newspaper printed on yellow paper.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

A time bonus of 10, six and four seconds will be awarded to the first three riders across the finish line each day (not including TTs). These bonus seconds are taken off their stage and therefore overall time. Bonus seconds of eight, five and two seconds are also awarded on certain, strategically placed climbs on stages one, two, five, 12, 14 and 17.

Last 10 winners of the Tour de France general classification:

2014: Vincenzo Nibali
2015: Chris Froome
2016: Chris Froome
2017: Chris Froome
2018: Geraint Thomas
2019: Egan Bernal
2020: Tadej Pogačar
2021: Tadej Pogačar
2022: Jonas Vinegaard
2023: Jonas Vinegaard

Tour de France green jersey - points classification

Wout van Aert at the 2022 Tour de France

The green jersey relates to points awarded to riders according to the position they finish on each stage, with additional points for intermediate sprints during some stages also on offer.

The number of points on offer will vary depending upon the type of stage. More are on offer during pure flat, sprint days, while on hilly and mountain stages there are fewer points available. The points are then tallied up after each stage and added to points won in all previous stages. The green jersey ( maillot vert) is awarded to the rider with the most points. Sometimes it is a sprinter's game, sometimes more of an all-rounder - like Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).

The jersey took its colour because the initial sponsor was a lawn mower manufacturer - though the colour was changed once in 1968 to accommodate a sponsor. It is now sponsored by Škoda, and has a new shade for this year .

Both Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault successfully won both the general classification and the points classification with Merckx achieving the biggest sweep in 1969 with the points, mountain and general classifications to his name. Over the last ten years, Peter Sagan has triumphed in the points classification on no less than seven occasions.

The following points are on offer:

Flat stage (stages 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16): 50, 30, 20 points (descending to 15th place)

Hilly stage (stages 1, 11, 17, 18): 30, 25, 22 points (descending to 15th place)

Mountain stage and ITTs (4, 7, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21): 20, 17, 15, (descending to 15th place)

Intermediate sprint: 20, 17, 15, (descending to 15th place)

Last 10 winners of the Tour de France points classification:

2014: Peter Sagan
2015: Peter Sagan
2016: Peter Sagan
2017: Michael Matthews
2018: Peter Sagan
2019: Peter Sagan
2020: Sam Bennett
2021: Mark Cavendish
2022: Wout van Aert
2023: Jasper Philipsen

Tour de France jerseys: Polka dot - King of the Mountains classification leader

Tour de france polka dot jersey - mountains classification.

Simon Geschke in the polka dot jersey at the 2022 Tour de France

Mountains points are awarded to riders who manage to summit classified climbs first. Points vary depending on the category of each ascent, with more difficult climbs awarding more mountains points.

Climbs are divided into five categories: 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) - then there's the ' Hors Categorie ', denoted by HC which represents the most challenging of ascents. The tougher the category, the more points on offer, and to more riders - a HC climb will see points awarded down to the first eight over the summit, while a fourth category climb results in points for just the first rider over the top.

The organisers decide which mountains or climbs will be included in the competition, and which category they fall into. If the stage features a summit finish, the points for the climb are doubled.

The points are tallied up after each stage and added to points won in all previous stages. The distinctive white-with-red-dots jersey ( maillot à pois rouges ) is given to the rider with the most mountains points. The first climber's award was given out in 1933, and the jersey arrived on the scene in 1975. It is now sponsored by Leclerc, a supermarket.

Points awarded as follows:

HC: 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2pts

1st cat: 10, 8, 6, 7, 5, 1pt

2nd cat: Five, three, two.

3rd cat: Two and one points

4th cat: One point

The souvenir Henri Desgrange is awarded to the first rider over the race’s highest point, the Cime de la Bonnette, with a bonus of 40, 30, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4 points, on stage 19.

Last 10 winners of the Tour de France mountains classification:

2014: Rafał Majka
2015: Chris Froome
2016: Rafał Majka
2017: Warren Barguil
2018: Julian Alaphilippe
2019: Romain Bardet
2023: Giulio Ciccone

Tour de France white jersey - best young rider

The plain white, young rider classification jersey is awarded to the fastest rider born after 1 January 1998, meaning 25 or under. It is sponsored by Krys, an opticians

First introduced in 1975, riders such as Marco Pantani, Alberto Contador, Egan Bernal and Tadej Pogačar have all won the young rider classification, helping propel them onto bigger and better things during their careers.

Pogačar has been dominant in the white jersey competition in recent years, but this is the first year he is not eligible.

Last 10 winners of the Tour de France young rider classification:

2014: Thibaut Pinot
2015: Nairo Quintana
2016: Adam Yates
2017: Simon Yates
2018: Pierre Latour
2022: Tadej Pogačar
2023: Tadej Pogačar

Other Tour de France classifications - team and combativity

There are two further classifications that do not earn the winner(s) a coloured jersey - the most aggressive rider award and Team Classification .

While not necessarily a classification, the Combativity Award is given to the rider who has shown the most fighting spirit during each individual stage, as chosen by the race jury. They will wear a gold race number during the following day's stage. A 'Super Combativity' award is handed out on the final stage for the most aggressive rider during the whole race.

The Team Classification is based on the collective time of the three highest-placed riders from each squad. Leaders of the team classification get to wear race numbers that are yellow with black digits, and the right to wear yellow helmets. The latter is not compulsory.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Adam is Cycling Weekly ’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.

A collage of Tom Pidcock, Josh Tarling and Emma Finucane riding bicycles

Over half of GB's Paris Olympics squad revealed, with second announcement expected on 4 July

By Tom Davidson Published 24 June 24

Rider cycling on the drops, descending on a winding road wearing a white HJC helmet and blue castelli jersey

I have trawled the Evans Cycles website so you don’t have to. Here are some of the best deals to be had this summer.

By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published 24 June 24

Useful links

Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
Vuelta a España

Buyer's Guides

Best road bikes
Best gravel bikes
Best smart turbo trainers
Best cycling computers
Editor's Choice
Bike Reviews
Component Reviews
Clothing Reviews
Contact Future's experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us

Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Filed under:

Tour de France

Tour de France jerseys: Colors and meanings explained

The fanciful jerseys that cyclists wear during the Tour de France aren’t simply fashion choices.

Share this story

Share this on Facebook
Share this on Twitter
Share this on Reddit
Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Tour de France jerseys: Colors and meanings explained

Le Tour de France 2017 - Stage Twenty One

As the Tour de France continues, some riders can be seen sporting jerseys in yellow, green, and white with red polka dots.

No, their jerseys are not a fashion decision. The color of the jerseys actually reflects where a handful of the riders stand in the competition, or their previous success in other races heading into the Tour.

So, what do all the colors of the jerseys mean?

Yellow Jersey:

The yellow jersey is worn by the overall time leader of the Tour de France. This jersey is the most coveted of all the jerseys worn by a rider in the Tour.

The jersey is awarded after each stage of the race. The riders’ total times are added up, and the rider who has completed the stages up to that point in the least amount of time earns the yellow jersey. The overall leader then wears the yellow jersey during the following day of racing, and every day he is still in the lead.

Green Jersey:

The green jersey signifies the leading cyclist in stage points. Riders who finish among the top 15 riders at the end of each stage are awarded points based on position, with first earning the most points.

The number of points awarded for each stage depends on the terrain of the stage. The flatter the stage, the more points awarded to those top positions. As a result, the leaders of the green jersey competition tend to be the best pure sprinters.

There are other opportunities for riders to earn points that contribute to their standing on the points classification. Points are also awarded during the individual time trial stages, and intermediate sprint contests that take place in the midst of traditional stages. These intermediate sprint contests occur at least once during each stage, and are usually worth fewer points than the stage finishes.

Polka Dot Jersey:

The white with red polka dot jersey, also known as the King of the Mountains jersey, is awarded to the cyclist who is the best climber. Points are awarded to the cyclists who top the categorized climbs of the Tour first. The number of points given to the riders depends on the category of the mountain.

The climbs are divided in five categories based on the steepness and length of the climb. An Hors Catégorie climb is literally an “outside category” climb, and is the most difficult type of climb on the Tour. From there, climbs are rated 1-4, with a Category 1 climb being especially difficult, and a Category 4 climb being relatively easy.

The harder the climb, the more points riders can earn at the summit. The points earned from all the climbs of the Tour are added together at the end of each stage, and the jersey is awarded to the rider with the most mountain points.

White Jersey:

The white jersey is awarded to under-25 cyclist who has completed the race in the least amount of time. It is similar to the yellow jersey, but only for this certain age group.

Rainbow Jersey:

The rainbow jersey is not awarded to a rider during the Tour. It can be worn by the reining men’s road race world champion, however — as determined at the UCI Road World Championships during the previous summer — as he competes in the Tour. The world champion in time trials also can wear the rainbow jersey during the time trial stages of the Tour. This year, the individual time trial takes place on Stage 20.

National Champion Jerseys:

Current national road race champions can also choose to wear their national team jerseys during the individual stages.

If a rider wins the yellow, green, polka dot, or white jersey while wearing the rainbow or national team jersey, he can choose which one he wants to race in. During the current Tour, Peter Sagan is both the reining world champion and green jersey leader at the moment, so he’s choosing to wear green as he competes in the Tour.

Other Awards:

There are other awards handed out to certain riders throughout the Tour. The most combative rider — meaning, someone the race jury decides displays a “fighting spirit” during the individual stages — gets to wear a white-on-red number during the following stage.

There is also a team classification, which is based on the times of the top three riders of each team in the overall time standings at the end of every stage. The leading team wears black-on-yellow numbers, and have the option to wear yellow helmets.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the SB Nation Daily Roundup newsletter!

Thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

The jerseys of the 2024 Tour de France

Details of the four iconic leader's jerseys and the minor prizes at the race explained

JumboVismas Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey C AlpecinDeceunincks Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen wearing the best sprinters green jersey UAE Team Emirates Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young riders white jersey and Lidl Treks Italian rider Giulio Ciccone wearing the best climbers polka dot dotted jersey celebrate on the podium after the 21st and final stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 115 km between SaintQuentinenYvelines and the ChampsElysees in Paris on July 23 2023 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

There are four Tour de France classification jerseys awarded after every stage of the three-week race, each recognising different successes and talents in the race.

The iconic yellow jersey is worn by the race leader based on time, the green jersey is awarded to the leader based on points awarded at intermediate sprints and the finishes, the red polka-dot king of the mountains jersey is based on points awarded on categorised climbs, while the white best young rider's jersey is another based on time, but reserved for riders born after January 1, 1999.

The team classification is also based on time, with the riders of the leading team racing with special yellow numbers (dossards). The most aggressive rider wears a special gold number during the following stage.

The most aggressive rider (super-combatif) of the whole race is selected by members of the jury at the end of the Tour de France and is awarded a trophy on the final podium in Paris just like the other competition winners.

Santini is the official jersey maker for the Tour de France, and will put the finishing touches – adding all necessary logos – to the winners' jerseys on-site at the Tour de France. That also means fans can buy their own replica jerseys and other Tour de France merchandising.

What is the Tour de France yellow jersey? Explaining the general classification maillot jaune

JumboVismas Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard celebrates on the podium with the overall leaders yellow jersey after the 18th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 184 km between Moutiers and BourgenBresse in the French Alps on July 20 2023 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

The yellow jersey is worn by the leader of the general classification, the rider with the lowest net time in the race after every stage. The rider who takes it to Paris is crowned the Tour de France winner, the most prestigious success of the men’s cycling season.

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

The jersey is yellow because the newspaper that first organised the race, L'Auto , was printed on yellow paper.

The classification is based on the time taken for each rider to cover the 21 stages, taking into account time penalties and time bonuses.

In the event of a tie in the general classification, the hundredths of a second recorded by the timekeepers during the individual time trial stages will be included in the total times in order to decide the overall winner.

In the absence of a time trial or if the riders remain tied, then the positions in which they finished each stage will be added up and, as a last resort, their finishing position on the final stage will be taken into account.

Bonus seconds are offered to encourage attacking racing and these are deducted from the time taken to cover the stage. Bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds are awarded on the finish line to the leading three riders on each stage, excluding time trials. There are also certain climbs with bonuses of 8, 5, and 2 seconds at the top to encourage aggressive riding from the favourites.

All riders must finish within the time limit – a certain percentage (ranging from 104% to 120% depending on the stage and average speed) of the stage winner's time each day in order to continue in the race. This is often a problem for sprinters, domestiques and injured riders when it comes to the high mountains.

What is the green jersey in the Tour de france? The rules of the maillot vert

CAUTERETSCAMBASQUE FRANCE JULY 06 Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team AlpecinDeceuninck Green Points Jersey celebrates at podium during the stage six of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 1449km stage from Tarbes to CauteretsCambasque 1355m UCIWT on July 06 2023 in CauteretsCambasque France Photo by David RamosGetty Images

The green jersey is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints.

While the sprinters are the main candidates for the green jersey, it's the more versatile among them who have the best chance of overall success in Paris.

Peter Sagan is one such rider and has won green in seven of the past nine Tours, while Wout Van Aert dominated the points classification in 2022 to take his first green jersey. Jasper Philipsen won four sprint stages to anchor his green jersey in 2023.

Points are awarded to the first 15 riders at stage finishes or intermediate sprints, with different allocations depending on the nature of the stage. More points are awarded on flat stages than on mountain stages or time trials. The winner of a flat stage scores 50 points, a mountain stage winner just 20.

Only riders who complete the entire Tour de France are included in the points classification.

In the event where a rider or riders finish outside the time limit but are reinstated by the president of the commissaires’ jury, they will lose all points awarded to them in the points classification.

For 2023 the green jersey was a much darker shade of green than fans are used to as per a request made by the sponsor of the jersey, Skoda, but the colour was not popular with fans.

What is the polka-dot jersey? Explaining the maillot blanc à pois rouges

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) wins the final Polka Dot Mountain Jersey

The polka-dot jersey is worn by the leader of the mountains classification, who is known as the 'king of the mountains'. For the three recent editions of the Tour, the overall winner has also won the polka-dot jersey, but Italy's Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek won the competition in 2023.

Mountain points are on offer at the top of every classified climb, ranging from the hardest – 'hors catégorie' – to the easiest – category 4.

Hors catégorie: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-2

Category 1: 10-8-6-4-2-1

Category 2: 5-3-2-1

Category 3: 2-1

Category 4: 1

In the event of two riders being equal on points, the rider with the most first places at the summit of super-category passes or climbs or summit finishes will be declared the winner.

Only riders who complete the entire Tour de France will be included in the best climber classification. In the event of a rider or riders finishing outside the time limit but being reinstated by the president of the commissaires’ jury, they will lose all points awarded to them in the best climber classification.

What is the white jersey? Explaining the maillot blanc

Tadej Pogacar on the final stage of the 2023 Tour de France

The white jersey is worn by the leader of the youth classification.

A 'young rider' is anyone who was born after January 1, 1999, so anyone under 25 at the start of the year. The jersey goes to the best placed on general classification, based on time.

Tadej Pogačar has won the white jersey at the last four editions of the Tour, alongside the yellow jersey on two occasions.

The white jersey often used to be an indication of future Tour de France contenders, but since Pogačar has risen to greatness at such a young age, it's been difficult to see the future contenders so obviously. He is now too old for the competition, with the white jersey up for grabs in 2024.

What is the gold dossard?

The special gold number dossard is awarded to the rider deemed, subjectively, the ‘most combative’ the previous day. It is usually the rider most active in the breakaway or someone who shows panache and aggression, or even qualities of sportsmanship. It used to be a red number, but has changed this year as Century 21 now sponsor the classification and the new colour runs in line with their branding.

The prize, which is awarded on every road stage except the final one, is decided by a jury presided over by the race director and a new vote made by members of the Tour de France Club. Each stage’s most aggressive rider wears a gold race dossard during the following stage.

The race’s most aggressive rider (super-combatif) is selected by members of the jury at the end of the Tour de France and was won by Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) in 2023 after a number of aggressive attacks on stages.

What is the yellow dossard?

Jumbo-Visma are the team of the 2023 Tour de France

The yellow race number dossard is worn by members of the team leading the teams classification. It is calculated by adding together the times of each team's three best riders on every stage.

Any team reduced to fewer than three riders will be eliminated from the team classification.

Wearing a leader’s jersey is mandatory from the signing-in protocol before the stage start until the post-stage press conference.

Skinsuits are provided to the leaders of the various rankings for time trial stages, with special fitting sessions arranged the day before the time trials.

Riders can lead multiple jersey classifications but only wear one jersey in the race. There is an established order of priority for the different leader’s jerseys: the yellow jersey, followed by the green jersey, then the red polka-dot jersey and finally the white jersey.

When a rider is leading several classifications, they wear the one designated by the order of priority. The other jerseys are then worn by the riders lying second, third or fourth in the corresponding classification.

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

'Mark Cavendish is by far Britain’s greatest bike rider' - Philippa York on the Manxman's final Tour de France

Ready for his close-up – Remco Evenepoel and the most eagerly awaited Tour de France debut in a generation

‘I’ve never felt so good on the bike’ - Tadej Pogačar upbeat as Tour de France looms

Alpecin-Deceuninck Unveils Line-up and Special “Dark Denim” Kit for Tour de France

Margot vanpachtenbeke triumphs in opening stage of lotto thüringen ladies tour, marc madiot predicts early dominance by pogačar in tour de france, lani wittevrongel and ilken seynave to join lotto dstny ladies in 2025, best sprinters of the 2024 tour de france.

Email: [email protected]

The Ultimate Guide to the Iconic Jerseys of Tour de France

Mathew mitchell.

Published on June 29, 2023
in Men's Cycling

Step into the world of Tour de France and be mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of colours and symbolism that grace the iconic jerseys worn by the pro peloton. In this ultimate guide, we take you on a journey through the rich history and captivating stories behind these renowned garments. From the infamous yellow jersey that symbolises the leader of the race, to the polka dot jersey representing the best climber, each jersey carries its own unique narrative.

Table of Contents

Discover the secrets behind the green jersey , awarded to the best sprinter, and the white jersey, honouring the best young rider. Unveiling the intricate details and design choices, we delve into the significance of every stripe, dot, and patch. Whether you’re a fan of cycling or simply intrigued by the world of sports fashion, this guide will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the artistry and symbolism woven into the fabric of the Tour de France jerseys. So gear up and embark on this captivating journey through the vibrant world of cycling attire.

The yellow jersey: Maillot Jaune – The leader’s jersey

The yellow jersey , or Maillot Jaune, is undoubtedly the most iconic and coveted jersey in the Tour de France. Worn by the overall leader of the race, it signifies their dominance and command over the peloton. The history of the yellow jersey dates back to 1919 when it was introduced as a way to easily identify the race leader. The colour yellow was chosen due to its close association with the yellow paper used by the organising newspaper, L’Auto, which later on became L’Équipe.

The yellow jersey is not just a symbol of leadership; it also represents the determination, endurance, and sheer willpower required to succeed in the gruelling race. The jersey’s design has evolved over the years, but its distinctive yellow hue remains a constant. From the classic golden shade to the vibrant lemon yellow, each iteration of the jersey has left an indelible mark on the history of the Tour de France. Similar to the All Blacks in rugby, a simple jersey has come to represent something much bigger.

The yellow jersey is not only a badge of honour but also a target for other competitors. Riders will fight tooth and nail to seize the coveted jersey, resulting in intense battles throughout the race. It is this relentless pursuit of the yellow jersey that adds an extra layer of excitement to the Tour de France, making it one of the most anticipated and thrilling sporting events in the world.

The green jersey: Maillot Vert – The sprinter’s jersey

While the yellow jersey represents the overall leader, the green jersey , or Maillot Vert, is awarded to the best sprinter in the Tour de France. This jersey recognises the riders who excel in the flat stages and possess exceptional speed and strength. It’s not just about flat stages though, increasingly the winner has had to do well on hills. The green jersey was first introduced in 1953 to add another dimension to the race and reward the sprinters for their unique skills.

The green jersey stands out from the crowd with its vibrant shade of green, often referred to as “sprinters’ green.” The colour was chosen to symbolise the lushness and energy associated with sprinting. The design of the jersey features various sponsors’ logos, contributing to its dynamic and eye-catching appearance. Fans of a certain age will remember PMU’s logos on it but for the 2023 Tour de France, Skoda will have their logo on the green jersey .

Winning the green jersey requires consistent performance across the flat stages, where the sprinters have the opportunity to showcase their explosive power. Points are awarded at intermediate sprints and the finish line, with the rider amassing the most points throughout the race being crowned the winner of the green jersey . The battle for the green jersey adds an extra layer of excitement to the Tour de France, as riders push themselves to the limit in thrilling sprint finishes.

The polka dot jersey: Maillot à Pois – The King of the Mountains jersey

The polka dot jersey, or Maillot à Pois, is one of the most visually striking jerseys in the Tour de France. It is awarded to the rider who excels in the mountain stages, conquering the challenging ascents and demonstrating exceptional climbing abilities. Introduced in 1975, the polka dot jersey adds a touch of drama to the race, highlighting the fierce battles that take place in the mountains. Despite being a relatively recent addition as a jersey, there has been a form of a mountains classification since 1905.

The polka dot jersey gets its name from the distinctive polka dot pattern adorning the jersey. The design was inspired by the red and white polka dot jersey worn by the best climber in the 1969 Vuelta a España, which caught the attention of the Tour de France organisers. The dots represent the mountains and the relentless effort required to conquer them.

To win the polka dot jersey, riders must accumulate points by reaching the mountain summits first. The more challenging the climb, the more points are awarded. The King of the Mountains is determined by the rider with the highest number of points, showcasing their climbing prowess and tenacity. The polka dot jersey has become a symbol of endurance and determination, representing the gruelling battle between man and mountain in the Tour de France.

The white jersey: Maillot Blanc – The best young rider jersey

The white jersey, or Maillot Blanc, is a symbol of youthful talent and promise in the Tour de France. It is awarded to the best young rider under the age of 26, highlighting the emerging stars of the sport. The white jersey was also introduced in 1975 to recognise the impressive performances of young riders and provide them with a platform to shine.

The white jersey stands out with its clean and crisp design, representing the purity and potential of young riders. It serves as a reminder that the future of cycling lies in the hands of these talented individuals. The white jersey is often hotly contested, as young riders seize the opportunity to make their mark on the race and showcase their potential.

To win the white jersey, riders must demonstrate exceptional skill and consistency throughout the race. They compete not only against each other but also against more experienced riders, making their achievements even more impressive. The white jersey offers a glimpse into the future of the sport, celebrating the young riders who have the potential to become the next generation of cycling legends.

The history and significance of the jerseys

The jerseys of the Tour de France carry a rich history and deep significance that is intertwined with the race itself. Each jersey tells a story, representing different aspects of the sport and the extraordinary athletes who participate in it. From the inaugural yellow jersey that marked the birth of a tradition, to the green jersey that celebrates the explosive power of sprinters, these jerseys have become symbols of excellence and determination.

Over the years, the jerseys have evolved in design and style, reflecting the changing times and the advancements in sports fashion. What started as simple garments to distinguish the race leaders have transformed into works of art, with intricate patterns, bold colours, and sponsor logos adorning the fabric. The design choices are not arbitrary; they are carefully considered to capture the essence of each jersey and its respective category.

The jerseys have also witnessed the triumphs and tribulations of legendary riders who have left an indelible mark on the Tour de France. From Eddy Merckx ‘s dominance in the yellow jersey to Peter Sagan’s reign as the king of the green jersey , these riders have become synonymous with the jerseys they wore, etching their names into the annals of cycling history.

The significance of the jerseys extends beyond the race itself. They have become cultural icons, representing the spirit of competition, the pursuit of excellence, and the camaraderie among riders. Fans and collectors alike treasure these jerseys, displaying them as symbols of their love for the sport and the enduring legacy of the Tour de France.

Famous riders who have dominated the jerseys

Throughout the history of the Tour de France, there have been riders who have dominated the different jerseys, leaving an indelible mark on the race. These riders have become legends in their own right, their achievements etched into the fabric of the jerseys they wore.

In the yellow jersey category, one cannot overlook the legendary Eddy Merckx. The Belgian cyclist won the yellow jersey a record-breaking five times and is considered one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport. Merckx’s dominance in the yellow jersey remains unparalleled, earning him the nickname “The Cannibal” for his insatiable hunger for victory.

In the green jersey category, Peter Sagan’s name shines bright. The Slovakian cyclist has won the green jersey a record-breaking seven times, showcasing his exceptional sprinting abilities and versatility as a rider. Sagan’s charismatic personality and thrilling performances have made him a fan favourite, and his reign as the king of the green jersey continues to captivate audiences around the world.

In the polka dot jersey category, Richard Virenque stands out as one of the most successful climbers in the history of the Tour de France. The French cyclist won the polka dot jersey a record-breaking seven times, showcasing his mastery of the mountains and his relentless pursuit of victory. Virenque’s tenacity and climbing prowess have made him a legend among fans of the race.

In the white jersey category, Jan Ullrich’s name holds a special place. The German cyclist won the white jersey three times and went on to become the overall winner of the Tour de France in 1997. Ullrich’s achievements at a young age marked him as a rising star in the sport, and his performances continue to inspire young riders to this day.

These riders, among many others, have left an indelible mark on the Tour de France jerseys, solidifying their status as legends of the race and inspiring future generations of cyclists.

The evolution of the jerseys over the years

The jerseys of the Tour de France have undergone significant changes over the years, reflecting the evolution of both the sport and the fashion industry. What started as simple garments to distinguish the race leaders have transformed into highly sought-after fashion statements, capturing the attention of fans and designers alike.

In the early years of the Tour de France, the jerseys were basic and functional, with minimal design elements. The emphasis was on functionality rather than fashion, as the primary purpose of the jerseys was to identify the race leaders. The yellow jersey, for example, was a simple garment made of wool, featuring a collar, buttons, and short sleeves.

As the race gained popularity and sponsorship deals became more prominent, the jerseys started to incorporate sponsor logos and branding. This marked the beginning of the jerseys’ transformation into advertising billboards, with sponsors’ names and logos becoming prominent features of the design.

In recent years, advancements in fabric technology and printing techniques have allowed for more intricate and visually stunning designs. The jerseys now feature bold colours, intricate patterns, and eye-catching graphics, capturing the attention of fans and creating a sense of excitement around the race.

The evolution of the jerseys is not just limited to their design; the materials used have also undergone significant changes. Wool has been replaced by lightweight synthetic fabrics that offer enhanced breathability and moisture-wicking properties, ensuring that the riders stay cool and comfortable during the race.

The jerseys of the Tour de France are a testament to the ever-changing nature of fashion and the sport itself. They reflect the trends and innovations of their respective eras, serving as a visual timeline of the race’s history and the evolution of cycling attire.

Collecting and displaying Tour de France jerseys

For fans of the Tour de France, collecting and displaying jerseys is a way to celebrate their love for the sport and the iconic race. Tour de France jerseys hold immense sentimental value, representing the history, achievements, and legends of the race. Here are a few tips for collecting and displaying these cherished garments.

Research and authenticity

When collecting Tour de France jerseys, it is important to research their authenticity. Look for official replicas or jerseys that have been verified by reputable sources. Be cautious of counterfeit jerseys that may be circulating in the market.

Focus on significance

Consider collecting jerseys that hold significance to you personally. Whether it’s the yellow jersey of your favourite rider or the polka dot jersey of a legendary climber, choose jerseys that resonate with you and tell a story.

Display with care

When displaying Tour de France jerseys, it is important to handle them with care. Use proper hangers or display cases to prevent creasing or damage to the fabric. Avoid exposing the jerseys to direct sunlight or excessive moisture, as this can cause fading or deterioration.

Tell the story

Accompany your displayed jerseys with information and stories about the riders or the race itself. This adds depth and context to the jerseys, allowing viewers to appreciate their significance and the history they represent.

Rotate your collection

If you have a substantial collection of Tour de France jerseys, consider rotating them periodically to keep the display fresh and interesting. This allows you to showcase different jerseys and riders while preserving the condition of each garment.

Collecting and displaying Tour de France jerseys is not just a hobby; it is a way to pay homage to the sport and the athletes who have made it legendary. It is a celebration of the rich history and captivating stories behind these iconic garments, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of cycling attire.

The Tour de France jerseys are more than just pieces of clothing; they are symbols of excellence, determination, and the indomitable spirit of the race. From the iconic yellow jersey that represents the leader to the polka dot jersey that honours the best climber, each jersey carries its own narrative and significance.

The jerseys of the Tour de France have evolved over the years, reflecting the changing times and the advancements in sports fashion. What started as simple garments to distinguish the race leaders have transformed into works of art, with intricate designs and bold colours capturing the attention of fans and designers alike.

Collecting and displaying Tour de France jerseys is a way to celebrate the sport and its legends. These jerseys hold immense sentimental value, representing the history, achievements, and legends of the race. They serve as a visual timeline of the Tour de France’s evolution and the enduring legacy of the athletes who have graced its stages.

So gear up and embark on this captivating journey through the vibrant world of cycling attire. Explore the secrets behind the yellow, green, polka dot, and white jerseys, and discover the stories that have shaped the Tour de France. Immerse yourself in the kaleidoscope of colours and symbolism that grace these iconic jerseys, and gain a newfound appreciation for the artistry woven into the fabric of the race. The Tour de France jerseys are not just garments; they are symbols of triumph, passion, and the enduring spirit of the race.

Your cart is empty

The Polka-Dot Jersey at the Tour de France - A Brief History

The polka-dot jersey is handed to the best climber of the Tour de France. But how long has it been around, and does it achieve its goal?

Words: Joe Timms

The polka-dot jersey, or maillot à pois rouges , is a white jersey with red spots that signifies the rider leading the king of the mountain's classification at the Tour de France – the best climber in the Tour, in theory, but typically overshadowed by the yellow jersey's climbing prowess.

Tour de France 2021 Guide

Points are accumulated in the competition by riders individually and are awarded at the top of each categorised climb throughout the Tour. Climbs are ranked from .HC ( Hors catégorie, a French term which is translated as exceptional category ) to fourth category climbs. The categorisation of each climb is decided by race organisers prior to the race, and in general is based on the length and steepness of each ascent.

The king of the mountain's classification was first introduced at the 1933 Tour de France. This was 30 years after the first edition of the Tour and the 27th edition of the Tour de France. However, the polka-dot jersey wasn’t introduced as a signifier of the competition until 1975. The first rider to wear it was Joop Zoetemelk, though the winner of the classification that year was Lucien Van Impe. T he overall winner of the Tour de France that year was Eddy Merckx, who came in second in the elusive polka dot points competition.

Prior to 1933, the ‘ Meilleurs Grimpeurs’ (Best Climber) was awarded by L’Auto. An individual rider was selected by the newspaper which organised the Tour de France at the time. However, the winners of this competition are not official Tour de France classification winners as the award was not handed out by the Tour organisation, but it is the precursor of the modern-day king of the mountain's classification.

Related – Polka Dot Duel: Ide Schelling’s sublime Tour debut

Most Successful Riders in the King of the Mountain's Classification

Richard Virenque has won the most king of the mountain's classifications in Tour de France history. The Frenchman won the competition seven times between 1994 and 2004, perhaps overshadowed by the subsequently erased achievements of a certain Texan...

Lucian Van Impe and the ‘Eagle of Toledo’, Federico Bahamontes, held the record before Virenque with six wins apiece.

1. Richard Virenque - 7 2. Lucien Van Impe - 6 2. Federico Bahamontes - 6 4. Julio Jiménez - 3

Eleven riders have won the king of the mountain's classification twice, including Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul and Rafal Majka. Majka is the most recent rider to claim a second polka-dot jersey — he won the jersey at the 2014 and 2016 Tour de France.

Recent King of the Mountain's Classification Winners

Tadej Pogačar is the most recent winner of the king of the mountain's classification. He won the polka-dot jersey in addition to the yellow and white jersey at the 2020 Tour de France, which was also his Tour debut.

2020 - Tadej Pogacar 2019 - Romain Bardet 2018 - Julian Alaphilippe 2017 - Warren Barguil 2016 - Rafal Majka 2015 - Chris Froome 2014 - Rafal Majka 2013 - Nairo Quintana 2012 - Thomas Voeckler 2011 - Samuel Sanchez

He’s not the only rider to have won both the king of the mountain's and the general classification recently, Chris Froome achieved the feat for Team Sky in 2015. Nairo Quintana came also close in 2013 when he won the polka-dot jersey and was second in the GC.

The GC and KOM jersey have been won by the same rider eleven times by eight different riders. Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx and Gino Bartali are the three riders that have achieved this feat.

Cover image: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Team Car | Service Des Courses - Organic Unisex T-shirt - Rouleur

Team Cars | Service Des Courses - Organic Unisex T-shirt

Rouleur Team Cars Bone China Mugs

Rouleur ELITE Jet Water Bottle Bidon - 550ml

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt - Black/White

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – White

Team Cars | Campagnolo - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Burgundy

Team Cars | Peugeot - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Base Layer - Men's

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – Tonal Grey

Team Cars | Raleigh - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Grey

Coppi - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Jogger Pants - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Hooded Sweatshirt - Unisex - Heather Blue

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Black + Gold foil logo

Allez - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Tours Issue - Rouleur Tote Bag

Dai! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

True Grit - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Ride Fast, Read Slow - Cream + Green

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Green + Pink

Rouleur Embroidered Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt - Natural Cotton + Green

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Brass + Black etched logo

!Vamos! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Jersey - Women's

Rouleur Logo Women's T-Shirt - Navy

Rouleur x Kaweco Aluminium Rollerball Pen - Silver + Engraved logo

Tours Issue - Rouleur Notebook

MAGAZINE OFFERS
BIKE INSURANCE
Best Products
Maintenance
Accessories
Long-Term Reviews
BikeRadar Podcast
First Look Friday
Bike of the Week
Tech Features
Routes and Rides
Bike Galleries
BikeRadar Bargains
Buyer's Guides
Fitness & Training
Sizing & Fit
Mountain Biking UK
Cycling Plus
Bike of the Year 2024

What do the Tour de France leaders jerseys mean? Yellow, green, polka dot and white jerseys explained

How to win the Tour de France general, sprint, mountains and youth classifications

POOL LEQUIPPE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Colin Henrys

To a first-time viewer, the Tour de France can be a minefield. The winner is not simply decided by which rider crosses the finish line first.

How can a rider win multiple stages and not wear the yellow jersey? What is that polka dot jersey about? And what's with all the jargon they use?

Here’s our full guide to how the Tour de France is won: the classifications, the jerseys and the previous winners.

Tour de France classifications explained – what do the different jersey colours mean?

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: (L-R) Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck - Green Points Jersey, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey, Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Jumbo-Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey and Giulio Ciccone of Italy and Team Lidl-Trek - Polka Dot Mountain Jersey compete during the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Tour de France consists of four classifications that individual riders can win. The different classifications are signified by coloured cycling jerseys :

The general classification (GC) – yellow jersey
Mountains classification – polka dot jersey
Points classification – green jersey
Young rider classification – white jersey

The leader of each classification at the end of each stage wears the jersey on the following day.

If they continue to lead, they continue to wear the jersey until someone knocks them from the top of the classification. The leader of the classification at the end of the race is the overall winner of that particular classification.

There is also a team classification, but no coloured jersey is awarded for this.

What is the Tour de France general classification (GC)?

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Jumbo-Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at podium as final overall winner with a custom yellow Cervélo bike during the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France.

The general classification is the oldest and most coveted classification in the Tour de France, and is led by the rider with the lowest cumulative time.

Each rider’s time is recorded on every stage and the GC ranks the entire field by the cumulative time of each rider across all stages ridden. The leader of the general classification after the final stage in Paris is the overall winner of the Tour de France.

Tour de France yellow jersey explained

The GC comes with the coveted yellow jersey – or maillot jaune in French – which is worn by the leader of the classification until their overall cumulative time is bettered by another rider at the end of a stage.

The yellow jersey then passes on to the new leader of the GC, and so on.

Previous Tour de France winners

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: (L-R) Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates on second place and race winner Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Jumbo-Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey pose on the podium ceremony after the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France.

Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma–Lease a bike) won his second Tour de France on the trot in 2023, beating Tadej Pogačar (Team UAE Emirates), winner two editions of the Tour de France himself (2020 and 2021).

Egan Bernal's success in 2019 marked Team Ineos-Grenadiers' (formerly Team Sky) seventh Tour de France title in eight years.

Geraint Thomas won in 2018 and Chris Froome claimed four editions before that, after Bradley Wiggins had set the ball rolling in 2012.

Frenchman Bernard Hinault, the overall leader of the 72nd Tour de France displays during a day-off on July 12, 1985 in Villard-de-Lans, his four yellow jerseys won in previous years (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982). Hinault won the 1985 edition as well to tie the record set by his compatriot Jacques Anquetil and Belgian rider Eddy Merckx

Since the beginning of the Tour, four riders have won the general classification five times: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

Meanwhile, Fabian Cancellara is the rider who has worn the yellow jersey for the most days without ever winning the Tour (29).

Julian Alaphilippe held the jersey for 14 days in 2019, but fell away in the general classification in the final few stages.

Tour de France mountains classification

What is the mountains classification.

Giulio Ciccone celebrates winning the polka-dot jersey at the 2023 Tour de France

The mountains classification was introduced in 1933 as a secondary competition within the Tour de France.

The first riders to reach the top of categorised climbs in the Tour are awarded a certain number of points according to their position across the summit.

The climbs are categorised by a number, from 1 (difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on factors such as the climb’s length and gradient.

Groupama - FDJ's French rider Quentin Pacher cycles in the final ascent of Col du Grand Colombier in the final kilometeres of the 13th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 138 km between Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne in central-eastern France and Grand Colombier, in the Jura mountains in Eastern France, on July 14, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Climbs that are more difficult than category 1 are called h ors catégorie – "a class of their own" in French.

Hors catégorie climbs carry the most points. Summit finishes – stages that finish atop a climb – and category 1 climbs are the next most lucrative followed by category 2 and so on.

The first rider to reach the Cime de la Bonette, the highest peak of the 2024 Tour de France and the country's highest tarmac road, on stage 19 will earn double points.

The rider with the highest cumulative points total leads the mountains classification and wears the polka dot jersey. The exception is if they are also leading another classification, such as the general. In that case, the second rider in the rankings wears the jersey.

At the end of the Tour, the overall winner of the classification is the King of the Mountains.

Tour de France polka dot jersey explained

From left: Felice Gimondi from Italy, Frenchman Bernard Thevenet, wearing the Yellow Jersey of the leader, Lucien Van Impe from Belgium, wearing the red and white Polka Dot Jersey of the best climber, Dutch Joop Zoetelmelk and Eddy Merckx from Belgium, ride side by side during the 62nd Tour de France from 26 June to 20 July 1975. AFP PHOTO (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)

The mountains classification is signified by a white jersey with red polka dots (known as the polka dot jersey or maillot à pois ).

Vicente Trueba was the first winner of the King of the Mountains competition in 1933. The polka dot design wasn't introduced until 1975 when Bernard Thévenet won the classification.

Previous Tour de France mountains classification winners

Lidl - Trek's Italian rider Giulio Ciccone leads a breakaway in the ascent of the Cote de Longefoy during the 17th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 166 km between Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and Courchevel, in the French Alps, on July 19, 2023.

Lidl-Trek's Giulio Ciccone won his first polka-dot jersey in 2023, relegating Jonas Vingegaard, the 2022 winner, into third place.

Tadej Pogačar took the mountains classification in 2021 and 2020, following Romain Bardet in 2019 and Julian Alaphilippe in 2018.

Another Frenchman, Richard Virenque, won the title seven times in his career between 1994 and 2004, while both Federico Bahamontes and Lucien Van Impe have won it six times, from 1954 to 1964 and 1971 to 1983 respectively.

Eight cyclists have now won the mountains classification and general classification in the same year:

Gino Bartali
Sylvère Maes
Fausto Coppi
Federico Bahamontes
Eddy Merckx
Carlos Sastre
Chris Froome

Pogačar, Bartali, Coppi and Merckx have all done it twice.

Tour de France points classification

What is the points classification.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck - Green Points Jersey celebrates at podium during the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France.

The points classification was introduced in 1953 as an incentive for sprinters, with Fritz Schär being the first rider to win it.

The first 15 riders to complete each stage are awarded points, with the most points going to the first rider and the following 14 receiving successively fewer points.

More points are on offer for flat stages, again as an incentive to the sprinters. Riders can also gain points by winning intermediate sprints (sprints that take place at designated points part-way through a stage).

Tour de France green jersey explained

MOULINS, FRANCE - JULY 12: Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck - Green Points Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the stage eleven of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 179.8km from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2023 in Moulins, France.

The leader of the points classification is indicated by a green jersey ( maillot vert ). Green matched the logo of the first jersey sponsor, La Belle Jardinière – a clothing store.

The overall prize is awarded to the rider with the most points at the end of the Tour.

Previous Tour de France points classification winners

The green jersey went to Jasper Philipsen in 2023, Wout van Aert in 2022 and Mark Cavendish in 2021.

In previous years the award had become synonymous with one man: Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan. He claimed the prize for a record-breaking seventh time in 2019.

Tour de France young rider classification

LE MARKSTEIN, FRANCE - JULY 22: White jersey of best young rider Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates celebrates at finish line winning stage twenty of the 110th Tour de France 2023, a 133.5km stage from Belfort to Le Markstein Fellering / #UCIWT / on July 22, 2023 in Le Markstein Fellering, France.

What is the young rider classification?

The young rider classification was introduced to the Tour in 1975. Classics great Francesco Moser was its first winner.

This year it applies only to cyclists born on or after January 1, 1999 (under the age of 26).

Just like the general classification, it’s calculated using each rider's cumulative overall time but is aimed at rewarding young riders in the earlier stages of their careers.

Tour de France white jersey explained

The youth classification is signified by a white jersey.

Much in the same way as the other categories, the rider currently topping the classification wears it until someone else overtakes their lead.

Previous Tour de France young rider classification winners

HAUTACAM, FRANCE - JULY 21: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey competes in the chase while fans cheer during the 109th Tour de France 2022, Stage 18 a 143,2km stage from Lourdes to Hautacam 1520m / #TDF2022 / #WorldTour / on July 21, 2022 in Hautacam, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Beaten into second in the GC, Tadej Pogačar was still the fastest young rider in 2023, as he was the year before.

The Slovenian had become the sixth man to win both the white and yellow jersey in the same year when he rode to victory at the 2020 Tour de France, joining Egan Bernal (2019), Laurent Fignon (1983), Jan Ullrich (1997), Alberto Contador (2007) and Andy Schleck (2010). He then repeated the feat in 2021.

Pierre Latour won the young rider classification in 2018, while British twins Adam and Simon Yates were triumphant in the previous two years.

What is the Tour de France team classification?

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark - Yellow Leader Jersey, Tiesj Benoot of Belgium, Wilco Kelderman of The Netherlands, Sepp Kuss of The United States, Christophe Laporte of France, Dylan Van Baarle of The Netherlands, Nathan Van Hooydonck of Belgium and Team Jumbo-Visma celebrate after the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France.

The team classification has been part of the Tour de France since 1930 but awards no coloured jersey. Instead, the team is given race numbers with a yellow background, rather than white.

It’s not considered to be as important as the individual classifications. Teams don’t normally set out with an ambition to win it, but they may change their tactics during the race if they are in a good position to do so.

The team classification takes the time of each squad's top three finishers on every stage. The team with the lowest cumulative time leads the classification.

Previous Tour de France team classification winners

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 20: Podium / Dario Cataldo of Italy, Imanol Erviti of Spain, Enric Mas Nicolau of Spain, Nelson Oliveira of Portugal, Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil of Spain, Marc Soler Gimenez of Spain, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte of Spain, Carlos Verona Quintanilla of Spain and Movistar Team / Jose Luis Arrieta of Spain Sports director of Movistar Team / Pablo Lastras of Spain Sports director of Movistar Team / Best Team / Celebration / Trophy / Flowers / Mask / Covid safety measures / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 21 a 122km stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées / #TDF2020 / @LeTour / on September 20, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,)

Movistar Team has dominated the classification in recent years, topping the team rankings in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. This is despite none of its riders winning the Tour in those years.

Generally, the team with the rider leading the Tour will be more inclined to sacrifice teammates to protect the individual's lead, making winning both the individual and team classification – as Team Sky did in 2017 – a rare feat.

Share this article

Tour de France primer: What is the polka-dot jersey?

Learn all about the Tour de France’s King of the Mountains competition

July 3, 2023

Neilson Powless is leading the Tour de France’s King of the Mountains classification.

That is why he is wearing the polka dot jersey.

How does the competition work?

Riders race for points at the tops of mountains on the course. Climbs in the Tour de France are ranked according to their difficulty, from fourth category through to first, with the hors catégorie —beyond category—designation reserved for the hardest, most prestigious ascents. King of the Mountains points are awarded in accordance with this classification. The harder the climb, the more points the first riders to cross its summit can earn.

During the race, the rider who has accumulated the most points so far in this contest wears the polka dot jersey. To win it by the end of the Tour in Paris, a rider needs to be more than just a great climber though. Competing for King of the Mountains points requires a great deal of calculation. Do they go in an early breakaway and try to earn points on the first climbs in a stage? Or do they wait till later, when the breakaway is likely to be caught, and go for the later ascents, where they may have to climb against the riders who are racing for the yellow jersey? Every day, contenders for the climbers’ competition have to study the race map and make such decisions, always keeping in mind that the Tour de France is a three-week event. Every point counts, but if they race up every hill, they might not have the strength they will need for the biggest alpine passes, where they could earn the most points. To be crowned King of the Mountains in Paris, a climber needs to race smart.

Neilson isn’t sure what the rest of the Tour holds for him, but he sure likes his King of the Mountains shirt.

“It’s very nice to be in the lead,” Neilson says. “I’m already in love with this polka-dot jersey. I fell immediately in love with it. Let’s see how long I can wear it. It’s still a narrow lead - if I miss one break in the mountains it will be gone, and we are still a long way from reaching Paris. ”

Share this story

Featured event, more from tour de france, neilson powless.

When Neilson Powless started racing X-Terra triathlons with his sister back home in Northern California, he just wanted to spend time outside and rip around the trails near his house. His first love was mountain-biking. It was his best discipline in those off-road triathlons, and when he got to high-school, there were all sorts of chances for him to compete in California’s mountain-bike league. Soon, he was travelling with the US national team, racing junior world cups and championships against the world’s most talented mountain-bikers. Race in and race out, Neilson proved he was one of them.

Then he decided he wanted to have a go on the road.

Neilson has progressed steadily since he turned pro in 2018, thanks to his hard-work and diligent approach to training. In 2020, Neilson Powless became the first tribally recognized Native North American to race the Tour de France. The next year, our rising American star won Spain’s greatest one-day race, the Clásica San Sebastián, and finished fifth at the world championships in Belgium. Neilson was stellar in 2022. After a strong campaign in the Ardennes, he finished fourth on GC at the Tour de Suisse and lit up the Tour de France. He finished the year off with a victory at the Japan Cup .

The 2023 season was his best yet. Neilson won his first race of the year: the Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille. He then won the overall at Étoile de Bèsseges and stormed the Flemish classics, finishing third at Dwars door Vlaanderen and fifth at De Ronde in his debut campaign on the cobbles. At the Tour, he captured hearts with a stellar run in the King of the Mountains jersey.

Neilson lives in Nice, France with his wife and baby girl during the racing season. He enjoys exploring their new city and relaxing on the beach after hard rides through the Alps.

If he can find time in his schedule, Neilson would like to get back to his roots, and do some off-road alternative racing in 2024.

Tour De France: What Does Each Color Jersey Mean?

Everything you need to know about the four jersey colors at the prestigious cycling race., by julia elbaba • published july 19, 2022 • updated on july 22, 2022 at 1:20 am.

Tour de France: What does each color jersey mean? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

📺 24/7 South Florida news stream: Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

If you watch the annual Tour de France closely, you will notice that certain cyclists get to wear jerseys that differ from the rest of the riders.

These standouts can be seen in jerseys that are yellow, green, white with red polka dots or plain white.

The Hurricane season is on. Our meteorologists are ready. Sign up for the NBC 6 Weather newsletter to get the latest forecast in your inbox.

Here's everything you need to know about what the colors mean and which riders get to wear those jerseys:

What does the yellow jersey mean at the Tour de France?

The yellow jersey, or maillot jaune , is the signature Tour de France color designated to the race leader.

U.S. & World

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returns to Australia after US legal battle ends

Biden pardons potentially thousands of ex-service members convicted under now-repealed gay sex ban

The winner of the three-week prestigious event is seen photographed in the yellow outfit when the race finishes in Paris. The overall leader is determined by the cumulative time taken in all the previous races.

The winning cyclist from each of the first 20 stages also gets to wear the yellow.

What does the green jersey mean at the Tour de France?

The green jersey, maillot vert , is designated to the leader of the Points Classification. It is also know as the “sprinter’s jersey."

Points, determined by the the course's terrain and the placement of the cyclist, are awarded to the first 10-25 riders.

Certain stages have mini-sprints that offer points as well.

What does the white with red polka dot jersey mean at the Tour de France?

The white with red polka dot jersey is considered the King of the Mountains jersey.

The jersey is designated to riders with the most points earned for reaching the top of hills and mountains.

The amount of points for each of he terrains are decided by the steepness, length and position of the course.

What does the white jersey mean at the Tour de France?

The white jersey, or maillot blanc , is designated to the fastest overall rider under the age of 25.

This article tagged under:

The Colourful History Behind the Tour de France Jerseys

Few events capture the imagination quite like the Tour de France. A spectacle of endurance, strategy, and sheer will, the Tour is also a visual feast, not least because of its iconic jerseys. Each jersey not only signifies a leader in a particular section of the race, but also carries a rich history, symbolised through its distinctive colour or pattern. Let's pedal through the story behind the yellow, polka dot, white, and green jerseys of the Tour de France.

The Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey)

The most coveted of all, the yellow jersey, or "Maillot Jaune," belongs to the overall race leader. Its origins date back to 1919, a colour choice inspired by the yellow paper of "L'Auto," the newspaper that founded the Tour de France. This bright hue of canary yellow was chosen for its standout visibility in the peloton and as a tribute to the race's origins, singling out the wearer as the frontrunner in the epic journey across France.

The Maillot à Pois Rouges (Polka Dot Jersey)

The polka dot jersey is the top mountain cycler’s prize. Covered with red dots on a white background, it's awarded to the King (or Queen) of the Mountains, the rider who accumulates the most points on classified climbs. Introduced in 1975, the jersey's design was influenced by a major sponsor of the Tour at the time, a chocolate company that packaged their products in similarly patterned wrappers. This jersey not only highlights the best climber but also dots the mountain stages.

The Maillot Vert (Green Jersey)

The cyclist with the top speed and consistency across flat terrains and sprints is the wearer of the green jersey or "Maillot Vert." Since its inception in 1953, during the 50th anniversary of the Tour, the green jersey has been a symbol of the race's best sprinter, awarded on points earned in intermediate sprints and stage finishes. The choice of green was a nod to its original sponsor, a lawn mower manufacturer, linking the colour to speed and the sprinter's explosive energy across the green landscapes of France.

The Maillot Blanc (White Jersey)

The white jersey, or "Maillot Blanc," inspires hope and future potential. It's awarded to the best young rider, aged 25 or under, in the general classification. Reintroduced in 1975 after a brief appearance in the early years of the Tour, the white jersey's colour signifies purity and freshness, embodying youthful spirit and emerging talent within the peloton, marking this cyclist out as a future star.

In the whirlwind of strategy, stamina, and speed that defines the Tour de France, these jerseys stand as beacons of honour, each telling a story of human endurance and the legacy of cycling's greatest race. From the rolling hills to the sprint finishes, these colours not only distinguish the lead athletes, but also represent elements of triumph, perseverance, and the rich history of the Tour.

L'Etape Slovenia 2024 Union Radler Challenge: K0.0lesari na polno!

As part of the 2-day L'Etape Slovenia by Tour de France cycling festival, and in collaboration with our event partner Union Radler 0.0 and our ambassador, top cycling ace Matej Mohorič we are premiering an exciting challenge - free registration!

Join the unforgettable event !!!

What is L'Étape Ireland King/Queen of the Mountains?

To get the real Tour De France experience at this year's L’Étape Ireland we have two timed King/Queen of the mountain stages.

All Events by tour de france

L'Étape Estado de Mexico

L'Étape San Luis Potosí

L'Étape Udon Thani

L'Étape La Paz

L'Étape Ecuador

L'Étape Greece

L'Étape Puebla

L'Étape Parma

L'Étape Melaka

L'Étape Yuyao

L'Étape Czech Republic

L'Étape Cancún

L'Étape Denmark

L'Étape Rio

L'Étape du Tour

L'Étape Bulgaria

L'Étape Czech Republic Moutain Stage

L'Étape Slovakia

L'Étape Romania

L'Étape Ireland

L'Étape Slovenia

L'Étape Indonesia

L’Étape Portugal

L'étape poland.

L'Étape Campos do Jordão

L'Étape Acapulco

L'Etape TÜRKIYE

L'Étape Costa Rica

L'Étape Ciudad de Mexico

L'Étape Phitsanulok

L'Étape Egypt

L'Étape Cunha

L'Étape Las Vegas

Race calendar
Tour de France
Vuelta a España
Giro d'Italia
Dare to Dream
All Competitions
Tennis Home
Calendar - Results
Australian Open
Roland-Garros
Cycling Home
Football Home
Fixtures - Results
Premier League
Champions League
All leagues
Snooker Home
World Championship
UK Championship
Major events
Olympics Home
Mountain Bike Home
UCI Track CL Home
Men's standings
Women's standings
Alpine Skiing Home
Athletics Home
Diamond League
World Championships
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Biathlon Home
Cross-Country Skiing Home
Cycling - Track
Equestrian Home
Figure Skating Home
Formula E Home
Calendar - results
DP World Tour
MotoGP Home
Motorsports Home
Speedway GP
Clips and Highlights
Rugby World Cup predictor
Premiership
Champions Cup
Challenge Cup
All Leagues
Ski Jumping Home
Speedway GP Home
Superbikes Home
The Ocean Race Home
Triathlon Home
Hours of Le Mans
Winter Sports Home

Tour de France polka dot jersey guide

Published 05/05/2015 at 11:50 GMT

It's all change in this year's King of the Mountains as organisers do away with the system which saw Frenchman Anthony Charteau win last year's polka dot jersey despite being largely anonymous over the big hills.

Image credit: Eurosport

Highlights: Lapeira executes perfect gameplan to secure French title

‘finally his day has come’ – aranburu clinches spanish title in style, ‘what a finish’ – ‘blistering attack’ helps georgi retains british title in dramatic fashion, highlights: longo borghini powers away for fifth victory at national italian championship.

Who Might Win the Polka Dot Jersey at the 2023 Tour de France

With a course made for climbers, the battle to win the polka dot "King of the Mountains" climber's jersey at the 2023 Tour de France will be fierce.

The Tour de France introduced a Mountains classification in 1933, but it wasn’t until 1975 that the distinctive maillot à pois rouge (“polka dot jersey”) was first awarded to the rider leading the competition. Riders score points toward in the competition by being among the first to the summit of categorized climbs, with points awarded in accordance with each climb’s rating.

The leader at the end of each stage wears the jersey the next day, and the rider with the highest point total by the end of the Tour is dubbed the Tour’s King of the Mountains.

With such a mountainous course , the battle to win the polka dot jersey at the 2023 Tour de France will be fierce, especially given the fact that the last two riders to win the competition (Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar) have done so on their way to winning the yellow jersey as well–and both look ready to renew their rivalry this year.

So here’s a rundown of this year’s polka dot jersey contenders–and some other climbers looking to win a stage or two in this year’s Tour.

The Defending Champion

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard continued a 3-year trend that started with Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar in 2020 in which the rider who wins the yellow jersey takes home the polka dot jersey as well. And it makes sense: if you’re the Tour’s strongest rider, you’re also one of its best climbers.

And the way the points are currently distributed, all a General Classification contender needs to do is win a summit finish or two to immediately put themselves in the polka dot jersey conversation. Which is why Vingegaard has a chance to repeat his title –as Pogačar did in 2021–especially if he continues to climb the way he did while winning two stages and the overall title at the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier this month.

The Challengers

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

Pogačar won the yellow and polka dot (and white) jerseys in 2020 and 2021 , and he’s a good bet to accomplish the feat again. The dude just loves winning bike races, and when you’re as good at it as he is, things like winning three of the Tour’s four leaders’ jerseys tend to happen.

Yes, he’s recovering from a broken wrist and missed a bunch of training, but he’s still the best bike racer in the world and joins Vingegaard as one of top contenders for the Tour’s King of the Mountains title (and the overall victory) this year.

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)

Looking beyond Vingegaard and Pogačar, Italy’s Giulio Ciccone looks like the perfect type of rider to take home this year’s polka dot jersey. Winner of the final stage and the King of the Mountains title at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné , he’s a terrific climber with a proven track record of bagging mountain stage wins in major stage races, including three career wins at the Giro d’Italia, a race in which he’s also won the King of the Mountains title (in 2019).

And his team doesn’t have a GC contender to support, which means the 28-year-old will have the freedom to chase stage wins and KOM points–and he’ll need them in order to hold-off challenges from the likes of Vingegaard and Pogačar.

Romain Bardet (Team DSM-Firmenich)

France’s Romain Bardet won the polka dot jersey in 2019 and finished second and third in 2021 and 2015, respectively–so he knows what it takes to become the Tour’s King of the Mountains.

A former Tour podium finisher, Bardet’s days of chasing the yellow jersey are behind him, but mountain stage wins and the polka dot jersey are still very much in reach. Without a bona-fide GC contender, his team is hunting for stages, which means Bardet will have several opportunities to ride for himself.

Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)

Second on the stage to Alpe d’Huez in last year’s Tour, South Africa’s Louis Meintjes came tantalizingly close to taking a win that every climber dreams about. His good form was rewarded a few weeks later when he won Stage 9’s summit finish at the Vuelta a España.

The 31-year-old finished seventh at the Dauphiné, which means his form is right where it needs to be heading into the Tour, where he’ll continue hunting for an elusive mountain stage win–and perhaps the polka dot jersey.

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)

Believe it or not, France’s Thibaut Pinot has never won the Tour’s King of the Mountains title, despite three mountain stage wins and a third-place GC finish in 2014. Riding his final season as a professional , Pinot is more inspired than ever.

He finished fifth overall and won the King of the Mountains competition at the Giro in May , but seemed more concerned with winning a stage. (Which he did not.) The performance earned the 33-year-old one more trip to the Tour, where his first priority will be taking one final stage victory. Everything else is gravy.

Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious)

Since it was first awarded in 1975, Dutch riders have only won the Tour’s polka dot jersey twice: in 1988 and 1989 when Steven Rooks and Gert-Jan Theunisse won back-to-back titles with PDM-Ultima-Concorde.

Wout Poels would love to become the third Dutchman to win the honor. The 35-year-old came close in 2021, wearing the polka dot jersey for four days and finishing second in the competition to Pogačar. Like many of the riders on this list, Poels rides for a team looking for stage wins, so he can take his own chances in a bid to win both a stage and perhaps the polka dot jersey.

Michael Woods (Israel-PremierTech)

Canada’s Michael Woods is one of the best riders in this year’s Tour to have never won a mountain stage–but not for lack of trying. He’s twice finished third in the mountains, and may have won Stage 16 last year had his teammate (and compatriot) Hugo Houle not won it himself.

A two-time stage winner at the Vuelta, Woods won a stage and the overall title at the recent Route d'Occitanie, a four-day stage race in the Pyrenees, and is once again heading to the Tour in top form. His team prioritizes stage wins over the GC, and if they race as aggressively as they did last year ( and channel the spirit shown by their teammate Derek Gee at the Giro ), Woods will certainly have a few chances to finally get his Tour de France stage win.

Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe)

A former winner of the the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of Colombia–and runner-up at the 2022 Tour de Suisse–Colombia’s Sergio Higuita is one of cycling’s best pure climbers. But there’s a slight catch: his team comes to this year’s Tour hoping to earn a high GC finish with Australia’s Jai Hindley, the winner of last year’s Giro d’Italia .

Higuita will play a key role in supporting Hindley in the mountains, so his own chances to win a stage will likely hinge upon Hindley’s performance. Mountain domestiques have won stages while helping their teammates contend for overall victories ( just ask American Sepp Kuss ), but it’s a much more delicate enterprise than it can be on teams without a GC contender.

preview for HDM All Sections Playlist - Bicycling

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Racing

cycling 99th tour de france 2012 stage 5

2024 Tour de Suisse Women: How to Watch

Coryn Labecki Q&A: Joy and the Thrill of Racing

2024 Tour of Belgium: Preview & How to Watch

Egan Bernal Remains Focused on His Comeback

2024 Tour of Slovenia: Preview & How to Watch

Primož Roglič Wins the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné

2024 Tour de Suisse: How to Watch, Route, & Faves

Can Roglič Still Win a Major Race This Year?

Major Crash Neutralizes Stage 5 at Dauphiné

Red Bull Rampage Welcomes Women Riders in 2024

Derek Gee Claims First Professional Victory

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Your subscription makes our work possible.

We want to bridge divides to reach everyone.

Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean?

The yellow, green, red polka dot, and white jerseys worn by cyclists in the Tour de France represent the best competitor in different categories. The standings can change from day to day, especially early in the race.

By David Clark Scott Staff writer

July 9, 2010

What do the different color Tour de France jerseys mean?

YELLOW: The maillot jaune , the yellow jersey, is the signature chemise of the Tour de France . It designates the overall leader of the race so far. When cyclists finish the three-week race by cruising through the streets of Paris , the photo of the yellow-shirted winner is seen around the globe.

The yellow jersey is awarded after each of the 20 stages, or race days, to the rider who is the overall leader of the race so far. Each day the total amount of time taken to finish that stage is added to the cumulative time of all previous races, and the overall leader is determined. The next day, he wears the yellow throughout the stage.

GREEN : The green jersey, or maillot vert , is the sprinter’s jersey. At every stage, points are awarded to the first 10-25 riders that cross the finish line. The amount of sprint points awarded depends on the day’s course (a flat course produces more points than the mountain terrain) and in what place the rider finishes that day. Some stages have mini-sprints within the stage that are worth points. German Erik Zabel holds the record for winning the final green jersey in the Tour six consecutive times, between 1996 and 2001.

WHITE WITH RED POLKA DOTS : This is the King of the Mountains jersey. Points are awarded to the first rider to reach the crest of designated hills and mountains. Mountains are graded according to steepness, length, and position on the course, and points correspond to the grade. The best climber awards began in 1933, and the maillot à pois rouges was first worn in 1975.

WHITE : This jersey is worn by the fastest overall rider under the age of 25 (on Jan. 1 in the year of the race). The first white jersey was worn in 1975.

There are other prizes and competitions within the Tour de France that don’t involve jerseys. For example, the most combative rider of each stage – the one who tries to break clear of the field – will wear a red number on a white background, instead of the usual black on white. And the team prize – based on the team with the fastest three riders – wears a black number on a yellow background.

Tour de France 101: How long is the race?

Tour de france 101: is this a race of individuals or teams, tour de france 101: what's the peloton, tour de france 101: who’s favored to win, how are tour de france towns are picked incognito., help fund monitor journalism for $11/ month.

Already a subscriber? Login

Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. We believe news can and should expand a sense of identity and possibility beyond narrow conventional expectations.

Our work isn't possible without your support.

Unlimited digital access $11/month.

Digital subscription includes:

Unlimited access to CSMonitor.com.
CSMonitor.com archive.
The Monitor Daily email.
No advertising.
Cancel anytime.

Subscription expired

Your subscription to The Christian Science Monitor has expired. You can renew your subscription or continue to use the site without a subscription.

Return to the free version of the site

If you have questions about your account, please contact customer service or call us at 1-617-450-2300 .

This message will appear once per week unless you renew or log out.

Session expired

Your session to The Christian Science Monitor has expired. We logged you out.

No subscription

You don’t have a Christian Science Monitor subscription yet.

UK Edition Change

UK Politics
News Videos
Paris 2024 Olympics
Rugby Union
Sport Videos
John Rentoul
Mary Dejevsky
Andrew Grice
Sean O’Grady
Photography
Theatre & Dance
Culture Videos
Fitness & Wellbeing
Food & Drink
Health & Families
Royal Family
Electric Vehicles
Car Insurance Deals
Lifestyle Videos
UK Hotel Reviews
News & Advice
Simon Calder
Australia & New Zealand
South America
C. America & Caribbean
Middle East
Politics Explained
News Analysis
Today’s Edition
Home & Garden
Broadband deals
Fashion & Beauty
Travel & Outdoors
Sports & Fitness
Sustainable Living
Climate Videos
Solar Panels
Behind The Headlines
On The Ground
Decomplicated
You Ask The Questions
Binge Watch
Travel Smart
Watch on your TV
Crosswords & Puzzles
Most Commented
Newsletters
Ask Me Anything
Virtual Events
Betting Sites
Online Casinos
Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Tour de France 2023: Meaning behind yellow, green, polka dot and white jersey colours

The yellow jersey is the most famous and prestigious of them all, but there are three other colours to look out for in the peloton, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Wout van Aert, Magnus Cort Nielsen and Tadej Pogacar lead off stage 3

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing

The 2023 Tour de France sees 180 riders compete for the famous yellow jersey or maillot jaune which rewards the overall winner of the race.

While the yellow jersey, won in 2020 and 2021 by Slovenian prodigy Tadej Pogacar and Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard in 2023, is the most famous and prestigious of them all, there are three other colours to look out for in the peloton taking on this year's Tour de France route.

The green, polka dot, and white jerseys all have their own meanings, histories and significance for their respective holders.

While some riders (domestiques) work purely for the benefit of their team leader, others work to win individual stages, and others aim purely for one particular jersey.

It is not just the jerseys to watch out for – those riders wearing yellow helmets are the team leading overall when their times are added together, while the previous day’s combativity prize winner (the most aggressive racer) wears a red ‘bib’.

And anyone wearing a rainbow jersey is the reigning world champion, while national champions where the colours of their country during the Tour.

Here are the four Tour de France jerseys:

Yellow – overall winner

The biggest prize in cycling is the famous yellow jersey of the Tour de France . It is the awarded to the overall winner and worn by the current race leader at the start of each stage, and it is considered hugely prestigious to don the maillot jaune . It was initially introduced so fans could clearly spot the rider in charge, and took its colour from L’Auto (today L’Equipe), the newspaper owned by race founder Henri Desgrange.

Green– best sprinter

The green jersey is the prestigious prize given to the best sprinter in the Tour. The fastest in the pack compete for the biggest points at the end of flat stages and a smaller haul of points on offer during stages – called intermediate sprints. Peter Sagan won a record-equalling sixth green jersey last year, while Britain’s Mark Cavendish has won two and finished runner-up three times.

The 2018 Tour de France jersey winners celebrate in Paris

Polka dot – King of the Mountains

Perhaps almost as famous as the yellow jersey itself, the red polka dots on a white base are awarded to the rider who earns the most King of the Mountains points, which can be collected along the way by being the first to the top of categorised climbs – the more the severe the climb, the more points are on offer. Chris Froome won both the polka dot jersey and the yellow jersey in 2015, the first to do so since the great Eddy Merckx in 1970. In 2018 it was won by home favourite Julian Alaphilippe in some style.

White – best young rider

The white jersey is awarded to the highest placed rider who was 24 or younger on the first day of the year. The jersey was introduced in 1975, before a 10-year hiatus in the 90s, but returned in the 21st century and has been won by Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana, and both the British Yates twins, Simon and Adam.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

My Independent Premium
Account details
Help centre

Home > Events > Cycling > Tour de France > Jerseys

Jerseys of the Tour de France

In the Tour, a colored jersey is generally associated with each prize, and the current holder of the prize is required to wear the jersey when racing. The rider leading a classification at the end of a stage is required to wear the corresponding jersey during the next stage.

Yellow Jersey

The yellow jersey, known in French as the maillot jaune , is worn by the overall time leader, and is the most prized jersey. It is awarded by calculating the total combined race time up to that point for each rider. The yellow jersey was first awarded in 1919 to make the race leader stand out. The color yellow was chosen because the pages of the race sponsor's magazine, L'Auto, were yellow.

Green Jersey

The green jersey, known in French as the maillot vert , is awarded to the cyclist with the highest number of sprint points. Points for this jersey are gained by the riders who finish first, second, etc., at the end of each stage. The number of points for each place and the number of riders rewarded varies depending on the type of stage as the flatter stages are more likely to result in a sprint finish. Flat stages give the winner 35 points down to 1 point for the 25th rider; medium mountain stages give the winner 25 points down to 1 point for the 20th rider; high mountain stages give the winner 20 points down to 1 point for the 15th rider. Points are also awarded for individual time trial stages: 15 for the winner down to 1 for the 10th rider. Additional points are available at intermediate sprint contests, usually occurring 2 or 3 times in each stage at pre-determined locations; currently 6, 4 and 2 points are available to the first 3 riders at each sprint.

Polka Dot Jersey

The winner of the King of the Mountain wears a white jersey with red dots (known as the maillot à pois rouges in French), which is commonly referred to as the "polka dot jersey". Although the best climber was first recognized in 1933 as the "King of the Mountain", the distinctive polka dot jersey was not introduced until 1975. The colors were decided by the then sponsor, Poulain Chocolate , to match a popular product. At the top of each climb in the Tour, there are points awarded for the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are divided into categories, from 1 to 4 based on their difficulty with 1 being the most difficult, measured as a function of their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors categorie (outside category) is formed by mountains even more difficult than those of the number 1 category. In 2004, the scoring system was changed so that the first rider over a fourth category climb was awarded 3 points while the first to complete a hors category climb would win 20 points. Further points over a fourth category climb are only for the top three places while on a hors category climb the top ten riders are rewarded. Also, beginning in 2004, the points scored on the final climb of the day were doubled if such a climb was at least a second category climb.

White Jersey

A lesser classification is that for the white jersey (known as the maillot blanc in French), which is like the yellow jersey, but only open for young riders (those who are less than 25 years old on January 1 of the year the Tour is ridden).

Other (non-jersey) Awards

There is a special award for the cyclist that shows the most "fighting spirit" as determined by a group of judges based on points awarded to riders who made particularly attacking moves that day. The rider with most points in total gets a white-on-red (instead of a black-on-white) identification number.

Then there is a team classification which is determined by adding the time of the first three riders from each team after each stage. Historically, the team classification is not associated with a particular jersey design, though starting in 2006, the leading team wears a yellow number attached to their jersey instead of the standard white.

Old Jerseys

There are a few jersey that are no longer awarded. There used to be a red jersey awarded for the standings in non-stage-finish sprints. This jersey and award was abolished in 1989. The red jersey was determined by adding points which were awarded to the first three riders to pass two or three intermediate locations during the stage. These sprints also scored points towards the green jersey and bonus seconds towards the overall classification, as well as cash prizes offered by the residents of the area where the sprint took place. The sprints still remain in the Tour with the bonus seconds, prizes and points towards the green jersey are still awarded

There was also a combination jersey, which had a patchwork design, with areas resembling each individual jersey design. This jersey was presented to the leader of a points system based on standings for the yellow, green, red, and polka-dot jerseys. This was abolished in 1989, the same year the red jersey was abolished.

Other Jerseys

Rainbow jersey.

The current world champion can wear the rainbow jersey when he competes in the Tour de France.

National Jerseys

The current national road race champions can wear their national jerseys in "ordinary stages", while the national time-trial champions are allowed to wear their national jerseys in the time-trial stages only.

Read how they determine the winners of the Tour
Tour de France history
Tour de France home page

Search This Site

More cycling.

Cycling Home
Fitness Testing
Tour de France
Cyclist Profiles

Major Events Extra

The largest sporting event in the world is the Olympic Games , but there are many other multi-sport games . In terms of single sport events, nothing beats the FIFA World Cup . To see what's coming up, check out the calendar of major sporting events .

Latest Pages

List of eSports
Medicine for Weight Loss
Olympic Flames of the Future
Sport in Palestine

Current Events

Paris Olympics
2024 Major Events Calendar

Popular Pages

Super Bowl Winners
Ballon d'Or Winners
World Cup Winners

Latest Sports Added

Wheelchair Cricket
SUP Jousting
Virtual Golf

home search sitemap store

SOCIAL MEDIA

newsletter facebook X (twitter )

contact author info advertising

Tour de France Jerseys Explained, Jersey Meaning, Types And Colors

Richa Sagarika
Jul 01 2022

https://thesportsgrail.com/tour-de-france-jerseys-explained-jersey-meaning-types-and-colors/

Cycling’s ultimate test begins today, as the field prepares to sprint to Paris in the Tour de France in 2022 – but what do all the various jerseys mean, know the colors and meaning explained of the jersey

What are the distinctions between polka dots, white, green, and yellow?

Tour de France Jerseys Explained, Jersey Meaning, Types And All Colors

The yellow jersey of the Tour de France is one of the most recognisable emblems in sports.

It’s the one that every rider fantasises about wearing as the peloton swings down the Champs-Élysées in Paris for their victory lap in order to be declared the winner.

But why would a cyclist be chosen to wear the yellow jersey during the Tour de France? What do the other three jerseys imply, and what does a rider have to accomplish to get the white, green, or polka dot jerseys?

What Are The Jerseys In The Tour De France?

The yellow jersey is the most recognisable in the Tour de France.

This is given to the rider who finishes first in the overall classification at the end of each stage of the Tour. Because the race is based on time, the victor of a stage does not always take the yellow shirt.

For example, suppose the winner finishes 23 seconds ahead of the rider in the yellow jersey, who finishes seventh. The stage winner will gain 23 seconds on the yellow jersey holder, who still has an eight-second lead over the stage winner despite being 31 seconds ahead. The winner of the Tour de France will be the person wearing the yellow jersey after the 20th stage.

The final and 21st stage is a parade into Paris with a predetermined finishing order.

Jerseys In Green And White

The green and white jerseys in the Tour de France, like the yellow jersey, are determined by overall time rather than points or finishing place.

The Green jersey is given to the rider who finishes first in the points classification after each stage; it is also known as the sprinter’s jersey, and Mark Cavendish won it in 2021.

To discover a strong overall rider, it integrates a variety of talents, including flat sprint speed. The white jersey is awarded to the Tour’s best young rider. To be eligible, you must be the general classification leader under the age of 25. Tadej Pogacar won both the white and yellow jerseys in 2021.

Jersey With The Polka Dots

The polka dot jersey is the final of the main jerseys. A white jersey with red polka dots is given to the rider who performs best in the mountain stages.

It is referred to as the “King of the Mountains.”

The first person to reach the mountain’s peak is granted points, which are totalled to choose a leader, who is then awarded a jersey. Teams will use specialists for the mountain stages, with overall race hopefuls like Pogacar out of the running. In the Tour de France, the polka dot jersey is typically worn by tiny, quick, and strong riders.

Read More: Dewald Brevis Biography, Father Name, Age, Batting Stats, IPL 2022 RCB And Why He is Called “Baby ABD”.

Recommended: The Sports Fan App

LATEST CYCLING NEWS

Himiway Folding E-Bike B3: Embark on an Exciting Journey of Urban Exploration

Amstel Gold Race 2024 schedule, dates, route map, distance and teams list

Family Wellness and Green Travel: The Environmental Philosophy and Practice of Himiway C3

Tour of Flanders 2024 men’s and women’s schedule, dates, start time, route map and live stream telecast

LATEST NEWS

Journalist Mayank Saxena passed away, cause of death reason, biography and age

BWF US Open badminton 2024 schedule, date, time, draw, prize money and live stream telecast where to watch

Who is Kodikunnil (K) Suresh INDIA bloc’s Lok Sabha speaker candidate, biography, age, wife, education, caste and net worth

Who is Afghanistan cricketer Ibrahim Zadran, biography, age, height, wife, brother and IPL team

Privacy Overview

BIKES & GEAR
RACE CALENDAR
HEALTH & INJURIES

Remember Me

Create an account today and benefit from a bunch of awesome things.

tour de france 2021

Here’s Exactly What Each Tour de France Jersey Means

HOW THE RIDERS AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE WIN, AND KEEP, THE YELLOW, GREEN, POLKA DOT, AND WHITE CATEGORY JERSEYS.

SHARE THIS ON

There are four jerseys awarded during the course of the Tour de France each year. Most fans know about the big one: the overall race leader’s yellow jersey. But the other three—the green, polka dot, and white jerseys—also play significant roles, and winning one can not only serve as a stepping stone to greater glories for a pro rider, but can also be considered an important victory unto itself.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what each jersey means, and what a Tour rider must do throughout the race to wear it.

History of Tour Winners

Yellow Jersey

For most, the race’s fabled yellow jersey, or maillot jaune , stands above all else, as it designates the rider who leads the General Classification. After each stage, officials calculate who has the fastest time across the entire race. The jersey then goes to the overall leader, who gets to wear it in the following stage. And because it’s based on time and not points, the yellow won’t necessarily go to the given day’s stage winner.

Contenders for yellow—and, therefore, the overall Tour de France title—are well-rounded cyclists and smart tacticians with skills in both climbing and time trialling. They must also show enough strength to hold the pace of the peloton, especially as rival teams work together to drop the leader at every possible opportunity.

Green Jersey

The green jersey, or maillot vert, goes to the leader of the Points Classification. Riders can earn these points at intermediate sprints that come mid-stage, though most are won at the stage finish for the first 10-25 riders who cross. The amount of points given depends on the day’s stage profile—whether it’s flat or mountainous, for example.

READ MORE The Science Behind Marcel Kittel’s Tour de France

While known as the “sprinter’s jersey,” the green will ultimately go to a well-rounded and consistent rider. Although most points are traditionally gained at the finish of the flatter stages (where the sprinters can shine), the competition has also gone to riders who show tremendous persistence, picking up points where they can.

Polka Dot Jersey

The polka dot jersey goes to the leader of the Mountains Classification, otherwise known as King of the Mountains. Points in this contest are awarded to the first riders who reach the summit of designated climbs on each stage.

Tour de France climbs are ranked from category 1 (most difficult) to category 4 (least difficult). A fifth class, hors catégorie (“beyond category”), is reserved for the most challenging ascents. The amount of points awarded depends on the difficulty of each climb, though sometimes shorter or milder climbs will join a higher category if they come at the end of a stage.

Of course, the rider in polka dots must be strong climber. Often, it goes to small, lightweight guys with very high power outputs. The KoM competition comes into its own once the race heads into the mountain stages, where most points are available.

White Jersey

The white jersey, or maillot blanc, goes to the General Classification leader who is 25 years old or younger (on January 1 in the given race year). Put simply, it goes to the best young rider with the lowest overall time. For young, ambitious all-rounders in the race, winning the white jersey is like winning yellow.

Other Awards

Two other classifications exist that are not awarded with a special jersey: the Combativity Award and the Team Classification.

Although largely a token prize, Combativity Award winners still get a podium appearance when the race wraps up in Paris. After every stage excluding time trials, a panel decides the day’s most aggressive rider. Not necessarily the stage winner, it could be someone who has consistently attacked, instigated a breakaway, or been a key player in the stage outcome. This rider then wears a red race number (instead of black) in the following day’s stage. A Super Combativity Award is given on the final stage for the most aggressive rider throughout the entire Tour.

The Team Classification is based on the collective time of the three highest-placed riders in the General Classification from each team. The best team then wears its race numbers against a yellow background, rather than a conventional white background, and also has the option of wearing yellow helmets.

READ MORE ON: green jersey polka dots Tour de France tour de france 2021 white jersey yelloow jersey

Recommended for you

What do the colors of the Tour de France jerseys mean?

Surely, when watching the Tour de France you have noticed that some cyclists wear different colored jerseys, namely white, green, yellow or white with red polka dots. Did you know that these have a meaning? That’s right, the colors of the Tour de France jerseys are used, above all, to create a distinction. But what exactly does each one tell us? Below, we talk about the colors, jersey, Tour de France and their meaning. Read on!

Tour de France jersey colors: What do they mean?

As we indicated in the introduction, the color of the jersey in the Tour de France serves to create a distinction, specifically of the different leaders during each of the stages of this competition that usually lasts three weeks. The rankings of the Tour de France work by points and based on these points it is determined who should hold one or the other of the colors of the Tour de France jersey. This classification system has been in operation since 1953. The results are calculated by adding the points obtained in each stage, but also by subtracting the penalty points. The points awarded to each rider also vary depending on the place where they cross the finish line or the intermediate sprint line, as well as the cyclists with the best times and the individual time trials.

Specifically, since 2019 the palmarès has been expanding with the different cycling champions after scoring the most points in the flat stage, the mid-mountain stage, the high mountain stage, the time trial and the intermediate sprint. Throughout these the colored Tour de France jerseys (or Tour de France jerseys) change between the different cyclists, depending on the points they score, but what does each color of the Tour de France jersey mean? Let’s see, below.

Why is the Tour jersey yellow?

When we talk about the Tour de France yellow jersey, we are referring to the jersey that is assigned to the first individual time finisher in the overall standings. That is to say, it is the most prestigious jersey that exists in the competition. It was created in 1919 in reference to the yellow paper of the newspaper L’Auto, owned by the creator of the Tour Henri Desgrange. In short, it is the garment worn by the cyclist who leads the Tour de France and allows him to be identified in the stages in which he wears it as the winner. To do so, he must have the lowest accumulated time in each stage -after adding and subtracting the corresponding time bonuses or penalties-. Generally the wearer of this jersey in the different stages (or in most of them) is usually the one who ends up proclaimed as the final winner of the competition, however, there are very specific cases in which a cyclist has come to be proclaimed as such without having worn the yellow jersey of the Tour de France at any time. The only examples are Jean Robic (1947) and Jan Janssen (1968).

What does the green jersey mean in the Tour de France?

In answering the question of what is the green jersey of the Tour de France we find a jersey that was created in 1953 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Tour de France. In fact, it already existed in the past, but it had an opposite meaning to the current one, since in the early years it was given as a punishment to cyclists who received penalty points for not finishing in the first places. Nowadays the green jersey of the Tour de France (and since the date indicated) is awarded to the first finisher in the individual points classification. It should be noted that the first to finish each stage earns points, and the amount varies depending on the difficulty of the stage. If this stage is flat, then fewer points are awarded than in the intermediate stage, and fewer if the stage is a mountain stage or a time trial, respectively.

What does the white jersey mean in the Tour de France?

When talking about the meaning of the Tour de France jerseys, it is also essential to clarify the purpose of the white jersey. The white jersey of the Tour de France is used to classify the best young rider. That is, it works like the yellow jersey, but with the difference that this is disputed among cyclists with a maximum age of 25 years. It was created in 1975 to recognize the performance of cyclists with less age and experience, and in 1988 it disappeared completely, but was later recovered and is still maintained to date. The Tour de France white jersey can also be awarded to a 26-year-old rider if he has not yet reached that age on January 1 of the year of the Tour in question. In other words, cyclists who turn 26 during the Tour could be added. Since the establishment of the Tour de France jersey, 40 cyclists have won it to date, of which 6 have also won the yellow jersey.

Tour de France red jersey (white with red polka dots): What is it for?

Finally, when talking about the colors of the Tour de France jerseys, it is essential to talk about the color that is intended for the first classified in the mountain stages. The colors of the winners of the Tour’s mountain jersey are white and red (the latter is presented in the form of polka dots along the jersey, which is why it is also known as the red jersey of the Tour de France). In this case, the winning rider is called “king of the mountains” and, similar to the green jersey in the Tour de France, the points are added according to the difficulty of the category. That is, if the climbing stage or mountain climb is more or less difficult (the classification varies from level 1 to 4), as well as the steepness and length of the climbs.

Comments are closed.

The Latest Technology for your Workouts

Download zycle app.

Access your ZYCLE account

Remember me

Forgot your password?

Accede a tu cuenta ZYCLE

¿Has olvidado la contraseña?

Stage wins, polka dots, domestique duties? What to expect from the 3 Americans at the 2024 Tour de France

T he 2024 Tour de France gets underway in Florence, Italy, on Saturday, June 29, with a peloton of 176 riders spread across 22 teams.

This year, only three American riders are among them, but based on their strong performances of late, this small contingent holds great promise. As the tireless lieutenant for Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss had been on the roster for Visma - Lease a Bike but caught Covid and was replaced last minute by Dutchman Bart Lemmen.

Here are the three U.S. riders competing in this year's Tour de France .

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma - Lease a bike)

If Sepp Kuss is considered Jonas Vingegaard 's lieutenant, then Matteo Jorgenson may just be his sergeant. The 24-year-old Idahoan is new to the Visma - Lease a Bike squad this year, but he has already proven himself a capable and versatile asset. He claimed the top step of the podium after an impressive solo ride at Dwars Door Vlaanderen and became the third American ever to win a stage in the Paris-Nice race this spring.

Despite his young age, Jorgenson is making his third Tour de France appearance. Expectations are high after his exciting performances last year, when he cleverly rode himself into several breakaways. And who can forget his stage nine performance? He captured the hearts of American fans that day, attacking solo and racing up the Puy de Dôme , only to be caught by the race leaders in the last 500 metres. Whether serving his team leader or hunting for a stage win, Jorgenson will be an exciting rider to watch at the Tour.

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost)

Matteo Jorgenson wasn't the only American flying up the climbs at last year's Tour. In his fourth Tour de France in service of the EF Education-EasyPost team, Neilson Powless rode himself into the dotted King of the Mountain's jersey on stage two –the first American to wear the jersey since 2017 – and managed to hold onto it until stage 15, proving himself as one of the best climbers in the pack.

Due to a nagging knee injury, we've seen quite little of the California native this 2024 season, though he did appear to be in strong form at the USA Cycling National Road Racing championship . Here, he helped his teammate Sean Quinn take home the title while he himself walked away with a bronze medal in both the national road race and time trial championship.

Whether he'll be going for another stint in the polka dot jersey or going for stage wins has yet to be seen. Either way, he'll be a rider to watch from the get-go, as the opening stage looks to be rather hilly already.

Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost)

Twenty-four-year-old Sean Quinn will be making his Tour de France debut this year. Sporting his newly earned stars-and-stripes jersey, the U.S. national road racing champion will likely ride in service of E.F. Education's more senior riders, such as Richard Carapaz, Rui Costa, Alberto Bettiol and Powless.

Without a G.C. contender to challenge riders like Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar , the American team will focus on securing individual stage wins. As a strong climber with a powerful sprint, Quinn is well-equipped to contribute to his team's quest for its first stage victory since 2022.

Stage wins, polka dots, domestique duties? What to expect from the 3 Americans at the 2024 Tour de France

Cyclist on the Tour de France stage between Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sébastián in Spain in 2023.

These are all the stages awaiting Tom Pidcock at the Tour de France

Part of this story

Tom Pidcock

Tom pidcock is a talented multi-threat of a cyclist, equally at home on a mountain bike as he is on the road or a cyclo-cross circuit..

Wout Van Aert

A winner of uci cyclocross world cup series title in 2021, belgian rider wout van aert also is also a regular stage winner on the tour de france..

1 A start on the other side of the Alps
2 Back to France
3 Heading for Western France
4 In the heart of the Pyrenees
5 The home stretch

The official route of the Tour de France 2024

A start on the other side of the Alps

Stage 1: Saturday, June 29 - Florence to Rimini - 206km - Accidental
Stage 2: Sunday, June 30 - Cesenatico to Bologna - 199km - Accidental
Stage 3: Monday, July 1 - Piacenza to Turin - 230km - Flat
Stage 4: Tuesday, July 2 - Pinerolo to Valloire - 140km - Mountain

Tom Pidcock is parking his mountain bike to race the Tour de France

Back to France

Stage 5: Wednesday, July 3 - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas - 177km - Flat
Stage 6: Thursday, July 4 - From Mâcon to Dijon - 163km - Flat
Stage 7: Friday, July 5 - Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin - 25km - Time trial
Stage 8: Saturday, July 6 - Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-Les-Deux-Églises - 183km - Flat
Stage 9: Sunday, July 7 - From Troyes to Troyes - 199km - Accidental

Discover the Red Bull Junior Brothers program

Want to become a Red Bull Junior Brother? Here's what …

What is red bull junior brothers, wondering what red bull junior brothers is all about find out more about the pro cycling programme here., red bull junior brothers, red bull junior brothers aims to build the next generation of road cycling professionals., heading for western france.

Stage 10: Tuesday, July 9 - Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond - 187km - Flat
Stage 11: Wednesday, July 10 - Évaux-Les-Bains to Le Lioran - 211km - Mountain
Stage 12: Thursday, July 11 - Aurillac to Villeneuve-Sur-Lot - 204km - Flat
Stage 13: Friday, July 12 - Agen to Pau - 165km - Flat

Wout van Aert on Stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France

In the heart of the Pyrenees

Stage 14: Saturday, July 13 - From Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan - 152km - Mountain
Stage 15: Sunday, July 14 - Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille - 198km - Mountain

Who will come out top at the 2024 Tour?

The home stretch

Stage 16: Tuesday, July 16 - Gruissan to Nîmes - 189km - Flat
Stage 17: Wednesday, July 17 - From Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - 178km - Mountain
Stage 18: Thursday, July 18 - From Gap to Barcelonnette - 180km - Accidental
Stage 19: Friday, July 19 - Embrun to Isola 2000 - 145km - Mountain
Stage 20: Saturday, July 20 - Nice to Col de la Couillole - 133km - Mountain
Stage 21: Sunday, July 21 - Monaco to Nice - 33km - Time trial

IMAGES

Polkaman with Camera. Brent Humphreys Photographs from the Tour de
polka dot jersey tour de france 2021
Every Tour de France Jersey Color Means Something Different
The INTENSE Polka Dot Fight at Tour de France 2021
White jacket with red polka dots and the tour de france logo on Craiyon
Pin on Red Dots

VIDEO

RDS GP 2019. ENGLISH! Round 5. RED RING. Qualifying
What It's Like to Take the Yellow Jersey at Le Tour de France Femmes
Tour de France 2022

COMMENTS

The Polka Dot Jersey
POLKA DOT JERSEY. Symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage, the red polka dot jersey, which is sponsored by E.Leclerc, is awarded to the Tour de France's leader of the best climber classification. Although this classification was introduced in 1933, its symbol, the polka dot jersey, appeared in 1975 ...
Tour de France jerseys explained
Tour de France polka dot jersey - mountains classification ... The distinctive white-with-red-dots jersey (maillot à pois rouges) is given to the rider with the most mountains points. The first ...
Tour de France jerseys: Colors and meanings explained
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images. As the Tour de France continues, some riders can be seen sporting jerseys in yellow, green, and white with red polka dots. No, their jerseys are not a fashion ...
Exactly What All the Tour de France Jersey Colors Mean
What to know about the Tour de France jersey colors and how riders win the yellow, green, polka dot, and white jersey. ... (maillot vert), red polka dots (maillot à pois rouges), and white ...
The jerseys of the 2024 Tour de France
The rider who takes it to Paris is crowned the Tour de France winner, the most prestigious success of the men's cycling season. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de ...
The Ultimate Guide to the Iconic Jerseys of Tour de France
The yellow jersey, or Maillot Jaune, is undoubtedly the most iconic and coveted jersey in the Tour de France. Worn by the overall leader of the race, it signifies their dominance and command over the peloton. The history of the yellow jersey dates back to 1919 when it was introduced as a way to easily identify the race leader.
The Polka-Dot Jersey at the Tour de France
The polka-dot jersey, or maillot à pois rouges, is a white jersey with red spots that signifies the rider leading the king of the mountain's classification at the Tour de France - the best climber in the Tour, in theory, but typically overshadowed by the yellow jersey's climbing prowess. Tour de France 2021 Guide.
2024 Tour de France jersey colours and classifications explained
2024 Tour de France jersey colours and classifications explained. What do the yellow, green, polka dot and white jerseys mean at the Tour de France?
Tour de France primer: What is the polka-dot jersey?
That is why he is wearing the polka dot jersey. How does the competition work? Riders race for points at the tops of mountains on the course. Climbs in the Tour de France are ranked according to their difficulty, from fourth category through to first, with the hors catégorie—beyond category—designation reserved for the hardest, most prestigious ascents.
Tour De France: What Does Each Color Jersey Mean?
What does the white with red polka dot jersey mean at the Tour de France? The white with red polka dot jersey is considered the King of the Mountains jersey.
The Colourful History Behind the Tour de France Jerseys
Covered with red dots on a white background, it's awarded to the King (or Queen) of the Mountains, the rider who accumulates the most points on classified climbs. ... In the whirlwind of strategy, stamina, and speed that defines the Tour de France, these jerseys stand as beacons of honour, each telling a story of human endurance and the legacy ...
Tour de France polka dot jersey guide
Cat.4: 1. The upshot of these changes should mean whoever wins the polka dot jersey will most probably be one of the main GC contenders - or even the yellow jersey himself. Let's take a look at ...
Red, White, and Polka Dots: Neilson Powless Snags the Polka Dot Jersey
For the first time since 2017, an American is wearing the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.. After nabbing the five points on offer on the opening stage's penultimate climb, EF Education ...
Polka Dot Jersey Contenders at the 2023 Tour de France
With a mountainous course, the 2023 Tour de France will be a playground for climbers hoping to win stages and maybe the polka dot jersey as the Tour's King of the Mountains. The Tour de France ...
Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean?
The yellow, green, red polka dot, and white jerseys worn by cyclists in the Tour de France represent the best competitor in different categories. The standings can change from day to day ...
Mountains classification in the Tour de France
The mountains classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1933.It is given to the rider that gains the most points for reaching mountain summits first. The leader of the classification is named the King of the Mountains, and since 1975 wears the polka dot jersey (French: maillot à pois rouges), a white jersey with red polka dots.
What does the red polka dot jersey mean in Tour de France?
The rainbow-colored jerseys of the Tour de France are instantly recognizable, each signifying different classifications among the riders. Among them, the distinctive red polka dot jersey holds a…
Tour de France points system: What do the yellow, green, polka-dot, and
The Tour de France describes it as a "symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage". Jonas Vingegaard also won the polka-dot jersey in 2022. White jersey
Tour de France 2023: Meaning behind yellow, green, polka dot and white
The biggest prize in cycling is the famous yellow jersey of the Tour de France. ... the red polka dots on a white base are awarded to the rider who earns the most King of the Mountains points ...
Jerseys of the Tour de France
This jersey was presented to the leader of a points system based on standings for the yellow, green, red, and polka-dot jerseys. This was abolished in 1989, the same year the red jersey was abolished. Other Jerseys Rainbow Jersey . The current world champion can wear the rainbow jersey when he competes in the Tour de France. National Jerseys
Tour de France Jerseys Explained, Jersey Meaning, Types And Colors
The green and white jerseys in the Tour de France, like the yellow jersey, are determined by overall time rather than points or finishing place. The Green jersey is given to the rider who finishes first in the points classification after each stage; it is also known as the sprinter's jersey, and Mark Cavendish won it in 2021. Advertisement.
Here's Exactly What Each Tour de France Jersey Means
SHARE THIS ON. There are four jerseys awarded during the course of the Tour de France each year. Most fans know about the big one: the overall race leader's yellow jersey. But the other three—the green, polka dot, and white jerseys—also play significant roles, and winning one can not only serve as a stepping stone to greater glories for a ...
What do the colors of the Tour de France jerseys mean?
The white jersey of the Tour de France is used to classify the best young rider. That is, it works like the yellow jersey, but with the difference that this is disputed among cyclists with a maximum age of 25 years. It was created in 1975 to recognize the performance of cyclists with less age and experience, and in 1988 it disappeared ...
Stage wins, polka dots, domestique duties? What to expect from ...
The 2024 Tour de France gets underway in Florence, Italy, on Saturday, June 29, with a peloton of 176 riders spread across 22 teams. Only four U.S. riders will be among them.
Tour de France 2024: Route paracours and stage guide
The following day, it's time for the first time trial of this Tour de France, a 25km stage from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin. It's back on the flat for Stage 8 between Semur-En-Auxois ...

Follow the Tour on the official app!

2023 Edition

Tour Culture

POLKA DOT JERSEY

Accreditations

Tour de France jerseys: Yellow, green, white and polka dot explained

Tour de France yellow jersey - GC leader

Get The Leadout Newsletter

Tour de France green jersey - points classification

Tour de France jerseys: Polka dot - King of the Mountains classification leader

Tour de France white jersey - best young rider

Other Tour de France classifications - team and combativity

Useful links

Buyer's Guides

Site search

Tour de France jerseys: Colors and meanings explained

Share this story

Share All sharing options for: Tour de France jerseys: Colors and meanings explained

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the SB Nation Daily Roundup newsletter!

The jerseys of the 2024 Tour de France

What is the Tour de France yellow jersey? Explaining the general classification maillot jaune

Get The Leadout Newsletter

What is the green jersey in the Tour de france? The rules of the maillot vert

What is the polka-dot jersey? Explaining the maillot blanc à pois rouges

What is the white jersey? Explaining the maillot blanc

What is the gold dossard?

What is the yellow dossard?

Most Popular

Alpecin-Deceuninck Unveils Line-up and Special “Dark Denim” Kit for Tour de France

The Ultimate Guide to the Iconic Jerseys of Tour de France

The yellow jersey: Maillot Jaune – The leader’s jersey

The green jersey: Maillot Vert – The sprinter’s jersey

The polka dot jersey: Maillot à Pois – The King of the Mountains jersey

The white jersey: Maillot Blanc – The best young rider jersey

The history and significance of the jerseys

Famous riders who have dominated the jerseys

The evolution of the jerseys over the years

Collecting and displaying Tour de France jerseys

Research and authenticity

Focus on significance

Display with care

Tell the story

Rotate your collection

Related Posts

The Polka-Dot Jersey at the Tour de France - A Brief History

Most Successful Riders in the King of the Mountain's Classification

Recent King of the Mountain's Classification Winners

Team Cars | Service Des Courses - Organic Unisex T-shirt

Rouleur Team Cars Bone China Mugs

Rouleur ELITE Jet Water Bottle Bidon - 550ml

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt - Black/White

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – White

Team Cars | Campagnolo - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Burgundy

Team Cars | Peugeot - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Base Layer - Men's

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – Tonal Grey

Team Cars | Raleigh - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Grey

Coppi - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Jogger Pants - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Hooded Sweatshirt - Unisex - Heather Blue

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Black + Gold foil logo

Allez - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Tours Issue - Rouleur Tote Bag

Dai! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

True Grit - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Ride Fast, Read Slow - Cream + Green

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Green + Pink

Rouleur Embroidered Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt - Natural Cotton + Green

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Brass + Black etched logo

!Vamos! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Jersey - Women's

Rouleur Logo Women's T-Shirt - Navy

Rouleur x Kaweco Aluminium Rollerball Pen - Silver + Engraved logo

Tours Issue - Rouleur Notebook

What do the Tour de France leaders jerseys mean? Yellow, green, polka dot and white jerseys explained

Tour de France classifications explained – what do the different jersey colours mean?

What is the Tour de France general classification (GC)?