Every July, the best cyclists on earth tackle the most famous Grand Tour in the sport. Before you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery and exhilarating racing, it helps to understand the Tour de France jersey colors to identify the overall leaders, King of the Mountains, best young rider, and the sprinter’s jersey. Let’s look at what each jersey color represents and how a rider can earn to wear it during the grueling event.
What do the Different Jersey Colors Mean in Tour de France?
Yellow Jersey - Tour Leader
Yellow is the most famed Tour de France jersey color, because it’s worn by the leader in the overall classification. In the 2024 edition, Tadej Pogacar claimed the yellow jersey on the fourth stage and never looked back, taking the title. The defending champion has the honor of wearing the yellow jersey on the first stage of the following year. If they decide against it, then no rider will don yellow on opening day.
Polka Dot - King of the Mountains
Cycling is a tactical team sport that rewards efforts in different areas of the race. One of those is the King of the Mountains, represented by a polka dot jersey. Stages with climbs are divided into five categories, offering different points depending on the difficulty. Category four is the easiest climb, and only offers a single point to the first rider to reach the summit. Hors Categorie (HC) is the most difficult climb and provides more points for the effort. Arriving at the top first gets you 20 points. The runner-up bags 17 units, while the third rider earns 15.
Green - Sprinter's Jersey
It’s only fair to reward the fast riders, since the tour hands out accolades to the climbers. Sprinters have their shot at glory, vying for the green jersey honors in the quicker segments of the tour. The points allocation for an intermediate sprint follows the same distribution as an HC hill climb, with the first rider to reach the checkpoint scooping up 20 points.
White - Best Young Rider
Tour de France acknowledges the performance of the sport’s future with the white jersey classification. The highest-ranked rider under 26 in the general classification earns the honor of wearing the plain shirt. Riders must be 26 or under on January 1 of that year’s race to remain eligible for the best young rider prize. Pogacar is the winningest white jersey holder in the Tour’s history, racking up four, and consecutively between 2020 and 2023.
What is the White Jersey Classification in Tour de France?
The white jersey classification is for the best young rider under 26 years. It is worn by the young rider who is placed highest in the overall classification.
Is There a Team Classification in the Tour de France?
The team classification determines the highest to lowest ranked team by adding the times of the three best riders. Leading team members don't receive a jersey, but you notice them wearing numbers with a yellow background, instead of white.
What is the Hierarchy of Cycling Jerseys
The yellow jersey reigns supreme in the Tour de France as it represents the leading rider in the overall event. Polka and green jerseys are in joint second place, while the white jersey carries the least weight, because it is dedicated to the best youngster.
What is the Rainbow Jersey in Tour de France?
A rainbow jersey in the Tour de France is worn by the reigning World Road Race Champion. You will also see this jersey worn in other forms of cycling to honor the victor for their work.
Has anyone won all jerseys in Tour France?
No rider has ever won all the Tour de France jerseys. Eddy Merckx claimed the overall, sprint, and mountain classifications in 1969 and 1970, but there was no polka dot jersey at that stage. The only rider to have won all the Tour de France jerseys in a single year, achieving the feat in 1969 and 1970. Back then, there were only three jerseys on offer: the yellow, polka dot, and green
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Tour de France Jersey Colors Explained
Table of Contents
Every July, the best cyclists on earth tackle the most famous Grand Tour in the sport. Before you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery and exhilarating racing, it helps to understand the Tour de France jersey colors to identify the overall leaders, King of the Mountains, best young rider, and the sprinter’s jersey. Let’s look at what each jersey color represents and how a rider can earn to wear it during the grueling event.
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What do the Different Jersey Colors Mean in Tour de France?
Yellow Jersey - Tour Leader
Yellow is the most famed Tour de France jersey color, because it’s worn by the leader in the overall classification. In the 2024 edition, Tadej Pogacar claimed the yellow jersey on the fourth stage and never looked back, taking the title. The defending champion has the honor of wearing the yellow jersey on the first stage of the following year. If they decide against it, then no rider will don yellow on opening day.
Polka Dot - King of the Mountains
Cycling is a tactical team sport that rewards efforts in different areas of the race. One of those is the King of the Mountains, represented by a polka dot jersey. Stages with climbs are divided into five categories, offering different points depending on the difficulty. Category four is the easiest climb, and only offers a single point to the first rider to reach the summit. Hors Categorie (HC) is the most difficult climb and provides more points for the effort. Arriving at the top first gets you 20 points. The runner-up bags 17 units, while the third rider earns 15.
Green - Sprinter's Jersey
It’s only fair to reward the fast riders, since the tour hands out accolades to the climbers. Sprinters have their shot at glory, vying for the green jersey honors in the quicker segments of the tour. The points allocation for an intermediate sprint follows the same distribution as an HC hill climb, with the first rider to reach the checkpoint scooping up 20 points.
White - Best Young Rider
Tour de France acknowledges the performance of the sport’s future with the white jersey classification. The highest-ranked rider under 26 in the general classification earns the honor of wearing the plain shirt. Riders must be 26 or under on January 1 of that year’s race to remain eligible for the best young rider prize. Pogacar is the winningest white jersey holder in the Tour’s history, racking up four, and consecutively between 2020 and 2023.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The white jersey classification is for the best young rider under 26 years. It is worn by the young rider who is placed highest in the overall classification.
The team classification determines the highest to lowest ranked team by adding the times of the three best riders. Leading team members don't receive a jersey, but you notice them wearing numbers with a yellow background, instead of white.
The yellow jersey reigns supreme in the Tour de France as it represents the leading rider in the overall event. Polka and green jerseys are in joint second place, while the white jersey carries the least weight, because it is dedicated to the best youngster.
A rainbow jersey in the Tour de France is worn by the reigning World Road Race Champion. You will also see this jersey worn in other forms of cycling to honor the victor for their work.
No rider has ever won all the Tour de France jerseys. Eddy Merckx claimed the overall, sprint, and mountain classifications in 1969 and 1970, but there was no polka dot jersey at that stage. The only rider to have won all the Tour de France jerseys in a single year, achieving the feat in 1969 and 1970. Back then, there were only three jerseys on offer: the yellow, polka dot, and green
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