Le Tour de France is the crown jewel of bicycle racing. The course of this nearly month-long race changes each year. It generally moves clockwise around Western France until the final finish in Paris. Parts of the course may take the racers into France's neighboring countries.
Recognition in the form of special jerseys is given for different types of performances. According to the " 2010 Rules " of Le Tour de France, the jerseys are awarded at the end of each stage and are affectionately known as the yellow, green, polka dot, and white jerseys. For new Tour de France fans, the system may be a little confusing, but understanding the meaning behind each jersey can certainly add to the excitement.
Maillot Jaune – Yellow Jersey
Le maillot jaune, or the yellow jersey, is the coveted, overall award. The person who is in the lead is awarded the yellow jersey and becomes the person to beat. The person to win the maillot jaune is the person to complete the distance in the least amount of time.
Riders may receive time bonuses and penalties which are figured into the total time to determine the winner of the yellow jersey. The first yellow jersey was awarded in 1919. It is the most coveted award in the Tour de France.
Maillot Vert – Green Jersey
The first green jersey was awarded in 1953 when the current points system was implemented. The green jersey is awarded to the points leader. This jersey is associated with the best sprinter because points are awarded for intermediate sprints within a stage.
The CBSSports.com article, "Tour de France Jerseys," explains that points are also awarded for stage finishes, with the highest number of points going to the first place finisher. The highest number of points are awarded for the flat stages followed by the rolling stages, mountain stages, and individual time trial stages, respectively.
King of the Mountain Jersey
Le maillot à pois rouges, or the the red polka dot jersey, is awarded to the best climber in the mountain stages of the Tour de France. It is also known as the King of the Mountain jersey. The person with the most climbing points at the end of the stage receives the red polka dot jersey.
Hills are classified in one of five categories with the Hors catégorie climbs awarding the most riders with the highest number of points. In the final stage of the Tour de France, points for the Hors catégorie and category one and two climbs are doubled.
Young Rider – White Jersey
Le maillot blanc is also known as the young rider jersey. This white jersey is awarded to the fastest rider under the age of 26. The winner is determined using the same general time classification as the overall yellow jersey.
In addition to the colored jerseys, yellow and red numbers are also awarded. The yellow number is awarded to the team with the best time, which is determined by adding the times of the three fastest riders. The red number is awarded to the most aggressive rider at the end of each stage.
Each jersey must be worn in the next stage of the Tour de France. If a rider wins both the yellow and green jersey in the second stage, he will wear the more prestigious yellow jersey in the third stage. The green jersey would be worn by the second place points leader.
Diane Ursu - Diane Ursu joined Suite101 as a contributing writer in August 2009 and became a Feature Writer in January 2010. She is a freelance writer ...
Join the Conversation