Watching the Tour de France can look psychedelic—so many colorful jerseys whooshing by like a windy rainbow. All cyclists wear their team jerseys, which include the team names and sponsors. And throughout the race, four cyclists get awarded specific Tour de France colored jerseys. These colors include yellow (maillot jaune), green (maillot vert), red polka dots (maillot à pois rouges), and white (maillot blanc), and each one of these jerseys has its own meaning and importance.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what each Tour de France jersey color means:
Yellow Jersey
Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard in the 2022 Tour de France 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 and the jersey then goes to the overall leader. That rider wears it in the following stage. Because it’s based on time and not points, the yellow doesn’t necessarily go to the given day’s stage winner, but rather the leader overall.
Contenders for the yellow jersey—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.
Here's how the Tour’s yellow jersey gets made during the race:
Green Jersey
Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Jumbo - Visma wearing the green points jersey in Stage 10 of the 2022 Tour de France.
While known as the “sprinter’s jersey,” the green jersey goes to the leader of the Points Classification. The amount of points given depends on the stage profile—whether it’s flat or mountainous, for example. Typically, the winners are the first 10 to 25 riders who cross a stage finish, because the most points are traditionally gained at the end of the flatter stages (where the sprinters shine).
Ultimately, the green goes to a well-rounded and consistent rider, as well as to those who show tremendous persistence, picking up points where they can.
Red Polka Dot Jersey
Tour de France Femmes polka dot jersey winner
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 a 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
Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates wearing the white Best Young Rider jersey crosses the finish line during the 109th Tour de France 2022, Stage 20.
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.
FAQs
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.
What do the different color jerseys mean in Tour de France? ›
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.
What is the difference between yellow and green jersey? ›
Whereas the yellow jersey is awarded for the lowest cumulative time in the race, the green jersey reflects points gained for high placings on each stage and intermediate "hot spots", especially during the flat stages of the Tour.
What does the rainbow jersey mean in the Tour de France? ›
The rainbow jersey is the distinctive jersey worn by the reigning world champion in a cycling discipline, since 1927.
Why did they change the color of the green jersey in the Tour de France? ›
It has moved to a darker shade at the behest of sponsors Skoda, who have been on the jersey since 2015. It appears the company has rebranded to the new colour, so must the jersey that bears its name. Speaking to riders at Paris-Nice, it was difficult to pick up a groundswell of opposition, as there has been from fans.
Why is the King of the Mountains jersey polka dot? ›
Sponsorship. The polka dots originate from sponsor Chocolat Poulain. Between 1993 and 2018, the jersey was sponsored by Carrefour supermarkets, initially under the Champion brand, and later under the main Carrefour brand from the 2009 edition of the Tour. Since 2019, the jersey is sponsored by E.
Can you wear the rainbow jersey in the Tour de France? ›
Rainbow Jersey:
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.
What do different jersey numbers mean? ›
0–19: quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, H-backs, linebackers, defensive backs, kickers, and punters. 20–49: running backs, fullbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, H-backs, linebackers, and defensive backs. 50–59: offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and linebackers.
Why is the green jersey green? ›
It owes its colour to its first partner, La Belle Jardinière, a chain of clothing stores established in the 19th century. It goes without saying that this symbol of explosivity, passion and speed is typically held by the sprinters.
Why is the yellow jersey the most important? ›
A symbol of excellence, prestige and victory, the yellow jersey is beyond the reach of all but the most well-rounded riders —those who can hold their own on the plains, in the mountains and in time trials.
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.
What are the 3 jerseys of the Tour de France? ›
Tour de France jerseys: Yellow, green, white and polka dot explained
| Jersey colour | Classification |
|---|
| Yellow | General classification, overall leader |
| Green | Points |
| Polka dots | Mountains |
| White | Best young rider |
Jun 26, 2023
What is the meaning of the polka-dot jersey? The Tour de France's polka-dot covered jersey (maillot à pois rouges) is awarded to the “King of the Mountains”, the rider who leads the pack in Mountains Classification. Points are distributed to riders who reach the summit first in designated climbs of each stage.
Why is the Tour de France jersey yellow? ›
L'Auto, the organising newspaper, used yellow paper at the time, so the leader's jersey became yellow. However, there are some doubts over when the yellow jersey tradition was genuinely introduced. Belgian cyclist Philippe Thys was a three-time winner of the Tour de France between 1913 and 1920.
Has anyone won the green and yellow jersey Tour de France? ›
In 1969 Eddy Merckx rode his first Tour de France, becoming the only rider to win the yellow jersey, green jersey, and mountain classification in the same year. He also won the combination classification and combativity award.
What happened to the yellow jersey in Tour de France? ›
The yellow jersey on the first day of the Tour is traditionally permitted to be worn by the winner of the previous year's race; however, wearing it is a choice left to the rider, and in recent years has gone out of fashion. If the winner does not ride, the jersey is not worn.
What does the green jersey in the Tour de France mean? ›
Created in 1953 on the occasion of the Tour de France's 50th anniversary, the green jersey, which is sponsored by Skoda, rewards the rider who is leading the points classification each day. Points are awarded at stage finishes and at the intermediate sprints in line stages.
What does the white jersey mean in TDF? ›
A leader in waiting, the wearer of the white jersey, which is sponsored by Krys, is the best placed in the overall standings who is under the age of 26.
What color do winners of Tour de France get? ›
The symbol of the Tour de France, the yellow jersey, sponsored by LCL, is worn every day by the leader of the general individual classification and bestowed on the overall winner on the Champs-Élysées.
What does the pink jersey mean in cycling? ›
General classification - pink jersey
First up is the maglia rosa, the pink jersey, the kit worn by the leader of the general classification, the rider who has got around the route faster than everyone else.
