A guide to the four jerseys the best riders in the world have been fighting for at the Tour de France.
A beginner's guide to the four leader's garments
A handy guide to the four jerseys that the best riders in the world have been fighting it out for at the Tour de France:
Yellow jersey
The yellow jersey, or
maillot jaune, is one of the most iconic prizes in all of sport and is awarded to the rider with the lowest overall time at the end of each stage of the Tour de France. At the end of the race, the rider still holding the jersey is also crowned the overall winner of the Tour's general classification (abbreviated to GC).
Origins
The origins of the yellow jersey remain a mystery as the first winner of the Tour de France in 1903 was actually awarded a green armband instead. Three-time winner Philippe Thys recalled that he was first awarded one in 1913, but there are no newspaper mentions of it before the First World War.
Race historians note therefore, that the first official yellow jersey was worn by Eugène Christophe on July 18 1919.
The choice of colour also divides historical opinion. The most popular reason is that yellow reflected the newsprint of the race's early organiser, L'Auto newspaper. Other theories abound though, including one that the colour was chosen as it was an unpopular clothing choice, and therefore the only jersey they had available at short notice.
Stats and Trivia
After race organiser Henri Desgrange passed away in 1940, his initials were added to the yellow jersey and can still be seen to this day on the upper right chest of the jersey.
Lance Armstrong has won the Tour de France more than any other rider. He triumphed seven times between 1999-2005.
Eddy Merckx has worn the yellow jersey for more stages than anyone else - 96 in total between 1965-1975.
Green jersey
The green jersey or
maillot vert at the Tour de France is one of the grandest prizes in cycling and adds an intense sub-plot to the race each year.
The green jersey is awarded to the rider with the largest number of points at the end of each stage of the Tour de France. At the end of the race, the rider still holding the jersey is also crowned the overall winner of the points classification.
However there's been a key change this year as the green jersey will be decided on the daily stage placings, as before, but also through the placings at one intermediate sprint which will carry a bigger haul of points than before when there used to be three intermediate sprints, carrying a handful of points, usually six, four and two.
For the stage finishes the points tally is weighted higher towards sprint stages, with 45 points on offer to the winner on flat stages.
The following points are handed out to the first 15 riders to finish on the following types of stage:
Flat: 45, 35, 30, 26, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.
Medium mountain: 30, 25, 22, 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
High mountain: 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Individual time trial stages differ slightly with just the top 10 riders collecting points: 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The new the single
intermediate sprint points on each test hand the first 15 riders: 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points respectively.
Consistency is still vital and the man with the most stage wins not guaranteed to take to the podium in Paris - Mark Cavendish for example has yet to win the green jersey despite being the best sprinter of his generation. Whether the rejig of intermediate sprints changes that dynamic will become evident in the next three weeks.
Polka dot jersey
The polka dot jersey, or 'maillot à pois rouges', is awarded to the rider who has accumulated the most mountains points at the end of each stage of the Tour de France. At the end of the race, the rider still holding the jersey is also crowned the overall winner of the King of the Mountains classification.
Mountains points are up for grabs on every categorised climb in the Tour, and are awarded to those riders who are among the first to crest each summit.
The climbs are divided into categories from hors-category (most difficult or beyond classification) and then from first to fourth category (least difficult) based on their length and gradient.
This year double points will only be on offer at the four summit finishes (stages 12, 14, 18 and 19) while only the first six riders over the cat 3,2,1 and HC climbs will be awarded points which is likely to make it far more selective.
The full list of points on offer are as follows:
Highest level (HC): 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, 2.
Category 1 passes: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1.
Category 2 passes: 5, 3, 2, 1.
Category 3 passes: 2, 1.
Category 4 passes: 1.
White jersey
The white jersey, or
maillot blanc, is awarded to the rider under the age of 25 (at the start of the year) with the lowest overall time at the end of each stage of the Tour de France. At the end of the race, the rider still holding the jersey is also crowned the overall winner of the young rider classification.
If a rider tops both the general and young rider classifications, he will wear the yellow jersey and the second-highest ranked rider in the young rider's classification will don the white jersey instead. The same applies if a rider tops both the points and/or mountains classifications - he will wear the green or polka dot jerseys instead.
Only three riders have ever won both the general and young rider classifications in the same year. They were Laurent Fignon in 1983, Jan Ullrich in 1997 and Alberto Contador in 2007.
