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7 Exciting Facts About the Tour de France, and Where to Stream the Race

Lasting nearly three weeks and involving several hundred competitors, the Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting events across the globe — and in the world of cycling, it’s definitely the biggest. This much-anticipated annual race faced some setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the world hasn’t returned to normal yet, devoted cycling fans (and those of us who simply love edge-of-our-seats competition) are eager for the big return slated for this summer.

In honor of the Tour de France’s grand 2021 re-entry to the sporting universe on Saturday, June 26, we’re taking a look at some fun facts that’ll get your anticipation building even more. Plus, you’ll discover where and how you can watch every minute of the race from the comfort of home — no cleats or helmet necessary.

Thousands of People Are Involved

You might already know that a bevy of bicyclists participate in the race — 198 riders spread across 22 different teams compete each year. But the number of people involved in ensuring the race goes off without a hitch is much higher than the number of athletes participating. Organizers take logistics to the next level with team staff members, members of the race jury, thousands of security professionals and members of the media. If you include the spectators in that count, the numbers — pre-pandemic, at least — can run into the millions . From city to city along the race route, hundreds upon hundreds of people follow the action throughout the course of the event. And organizers and support staff keep things running smoothly to the finish line.

The Race Has a Surprising Connection to a Newspaper

The first Tour de France wasn’t held because a bunch of bicycling fans got together and thought it’d be a great idea to start a competition — at least not totally. It was actually a promotional event hosted with the intention of bringing more publicity to L’Auto , a French newspaper that focused on reporting details about different sporting events. Although L’Auto  has since closed down, the parent company of its replacement,  L’Equipe , continues to organize the Tour de France today. 

It’s Not Just Big, but Also Long

And it’s long in multiple ways, too. The race itself takes place over the course of nearly a month, with 21 different day-long segments making up the bulk of the competition. The length of the course is also extensive, however; it’s typically over 2,000 miles long and can pass through multiple neighboring countries. It wasn’t even always this short, either — in 1926, the course encompassed a winding 3,570 miles and took a full month for riders to finish.

Different Jerseys Mean Different Things

As you watch the race, you’ll notice cyclists wearing the bright kits and bibs that represent their teams — but you’ll also spot some even more unique colors and designs among the pack. One of these is a yellow jersey, called the “maillot jaune,” that’s bestowed upon the racer who had the lowest cumulative ride time for the day. Other special jerseys include the green “maillot vert,” which is awarded to the rider with the most points, and the “maillot a pois” — a red and white polka-dotted jersey given to the cyclist who earns the most points during the areas of the course that have steep inclines to climb. The rider who wears the maillot a pois is affectionately known as “the king of the mountain.”

There Was Almost Only One Tour de France

The first Tour de France took place in 1903 – and that was almost the one and only iteration of the race. That’s because newspaper editor Henri Desgrange, who helped organize the initial tour, was so aghast at the conduct not only of the fans but also of the competitors in the 1903 race that he wanted to discontinue it despite its clear appeal. Boisterous crowds turned violent, with spectators assaulting racers as they passed along the course. The riders themselves found numerous ways to cheat, disqualifying themselves in the process. But the Tour de France was so lauded — and it increased circulation of L’Auto  so extensively — that the organizers had no choice but to continue hosting the event.

The Race Has Its Own Language

Bonking, anyone? As you’re watching the Tour de France, you might hear commentators use some curious turns of phrase — and many of them will be unique to the race itself. Boost your bicycling know-how by learning what these terms mean before catching one of the race segments:

• Bonking: Cyclists don’t want to “bonk” during this race; it means they’ve run out of energy and are too wiped to continue.
• Peloton: No, it’s not the fancy exercise bike you bought during the pandemic. In Tour de France context, a peloton is the main group of riders where most of the participants are cycling together.
• Sag Wagon: If someone bonks, they may need the assistance of the sag wagon. This is a car that follows the pack of cyclists and picks up those who become too fatigued or injured to keep riding.
• Musket Bag: While it may sound like something you’d find at a Civil War battleground, a musket bag is sort of like a bagged lunch — but it’s packed with energy gels, water, sandwiches and other fuel for the cyclists. It’s also called a “musette” or, sometimes, a “bonk bag.”
• Lanterne Rouge: In French, this term means “red light,” and it refers to the cyclist who’s in the very last place in the race. Being in this position gets riders ample attention, and those who know they won’t win sometimes compete for this distinction instead.

You Can Watch the Action at Home — Here’s How

Now that the race has returned to regularly scheduled programming in 2021 following its 2020 pandemic postponement, you might be eager to catch the three-week racing saga unfold from the comfort of home. Fortunately, you have the convenient option to stream the tour live on both NBC Sports and NBC’s Peacock streaming service.

The race coverage on Peacock is only available through Peacock Premium, a paid tier of the service that costs $4.99 — a worthwhile investment if you’re a serious cycling fan who can’t wait to watch this Grand Tour. NBC Sports is accessible if you’re already paying for regular cable, but without that subscription you won’t be able to stream the program online or watch it on TV unless you spring for Peacock. 

Keep in mind that, if you’re not already a Peacock subscriber, you’ll receive a free weeklong trial to better help you determine if the service is right for you. You can use that to catch up on the race and decide if you want to make the month-long (or longer) investment.

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Here’s Exactly What the Tour de France Jersey Colors Mean

The story behind the yellow, green, polka dot, and white shirts.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what each Tour de France jersey color means:

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

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

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

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.

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Tour de France 2023 jersey guide: Who wears the yellow jersey? Green, polka dot and white jerseys explained

Published 03/07/2023 at 15:47 GMT

Each year, new fans flock to cycling due to the allure of the Tour de France. But it's not always the easiest sport to understand, particularly when it comes to the different jerseys on offer at the sport's biggest race. Here, we unpick the yellow, green, polka dot and white jersey competitions. Once you're up to speed, dive back into the Tour live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

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Who wears the yellow jersey in the Tour de France?

Who wears the green jersey in the tour de france.

• Flat stages: 50 points, 30, 20, 18, 16 (descending down to 15th position)
• Hilly stages: 30 points, 25, 22, 19, 17 (descending down to 15th position)
• Mountain stages: 20 points, 17, 15, 13, 11 (descending down to 15th position)
• Individual time trial: 20 points, 17, 15, 13, 11 (descending down to 15th position)
• Intermediate sprint: 20 points, 17, 15, 13, 11 (descending down to 15th position)

Who wears the polka dot jersey in the Tour de France?

• Hors Categorie: 20 points, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
• Cat. 1: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1
• Cat. 2: 5, 3, 2, 1
• Cat. 3: 2, 1

Who wears the white jersey in the Tour de France?

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GREEN JERSEY

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. 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. You only have to look at the identity of the winners to be convinced of this, in particular the Slovak Peter Sagan who has won the Green Serge seven times.

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2023 tour de france jerseys: what do the yellow, green, white and polka dot jerseys mean.

The world’s greatest cyclists have their sights set on the Tour de France 2023 — and with the infamous event less than one month away, not much time remains until we see the best riders compete to obtain the yellow, green, polka-dot and white jerseys. But what do these highly coveted jerseys mean to the cyclists fighting for them?

The famed Tour de France is making its way to NBC and Peacock in just a few weeks, taking place Saturday, July 1 through Sunday, July 23. See below to learn what the Tour de France jerseys mean and how a rider earns one.

RELATED: Tour de France 2023: How to watch, start time, route and more

What is the meaning of the yellow jersey?

Nearly every professional cyclist dreams of someday donning the Tour de France’s yellow jersey, also known as the maillot jaune .

This piece of clothing that stands above all else is awarded to the overall classification leader at the conclusion of each stage, with the fastest rider from the day before given the right to wear the jersey for the following day of racing. It’s important to remember, however, that the winner of this jersey is based on time rather than points, so the winner of the stage is not always the cyclist who gets to bear the yellow jersey.

When the race is completed, the overall champion of the Champs-Élysées receives the fabled yellow jersey. Last year’s winner of the maillot jaune was Team Jumbo-Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard , who remains a favorite for this year’s Tour.

RELATED: Relive Jonas Vingegaard’s 2022 Tour de France victory

What is the meaning of the green jersey?

The green jersey, also known as the maillot vert, is awarded to each day’s leader in points classification. These points are distributed among riders at stage finishes and intermediate sprints in line stages.

The number of points available for each stage varies depending on the stage’s profile. For example, a flat stage finish is typically worth more points than a hilly or mountainous stage finish. The jersey is typically dubbed “the sprinter’s jersey”, and is seen as a symbol of passion and explosivity from the riders who wear it.

Belgian star Wout van Aert earned the maillot vert in fiery fashion last year, picking up 480 points throughout the Tour de France. The closest any rider came to matching this number was Jasper Philipsen , who earned 286.

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. These, points, however, can vary depending on the difficulty of the climb. These climbs are ranked in categories 1 through 4, with 1 being the most difficult and 4 being the least. If a climb is ranked as “ hors catégorie”, it means that this is a climb “beyond category”, reserved for the most challenging endeavors. Points are then awarded based on the category of the climb.

A rider who earns the maillot à pois rouges symbolizes one who pushes beyond their limits with a great deal of courage. In addition to claiming the yellow jersey in 2022, Jonas Vingegaard also claimed last year’s polka-dot jersey, being crowned “King of the Mountains”.

RELATED: Click here for all NBC Sports cycling coverage

What is the meaning of the white jersey?

The white jersey ( maillot blanc) is one of promise and hope for the future. While the jersey first surfaced on the Tour in 1968 to reward the leader of combined classification, its meaning transformed in 1975 to a recognition of cycling’s young achievers.

Today, the white jersey remains as a symbol of youthful talent, being awarded to the best placed cyclist in overall standings under the age of 26. Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar earned rights to the maillot blanc in last year’s Tour de France at 23 years old.

When is the 2023 Tour de France?

The 2023 Tour de France will take place from July 1-23. The riders will embark on the first stage in Bilbao on Saturday, July 1.

How can I watch the 2023 Tour de France?

Coverage will air on NBC Sports and Peacock from start to finish.

Be sure to follow OlympicTalk for the latest news, storylines, and updates on the 2023 Tour de France!

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

Get this year’s Official Tour de France guide delivered to your mobile or tablet device today

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

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This competition is now closed

By Colin Henrys

Published: June 27, 2023 at 9:50 am

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 in Paris.

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?

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)?

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

Each rider’s time is recorded on every stage and the GC ranks the entire field. 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

Jonas Vingegaard (Team Jumbo-Visma) won his first Tour de France in 2022, beating Tadej Pogačar (Team UAE Emirates), winner of the previous two editions of the Tour de France.

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.

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.

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.

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 Col de la Loze, the highest peak of the 2023 Tour de France, on stage 17 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

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

Jonas Vingegaard added the King of the Mountains jersey to his maillot jaune in 2022.

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.

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

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 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 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

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, 1998 (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 early stages of their careers.

Tour de France white jersey explained

The youth classification is signified by a white jersey, and 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

Beaten into second in the GC, Tadej Pogačar was still the fastest young rider in 2022.

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?

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

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.

Colin Henrys

Colin is a freelance sports journalist who first started reporting on cycling during the 2013 Tour de France on a month-long internship with RoadCyclingUK. The cycling bug bit so hard he was still there when Geraint Thomas rode to victory five years later. Much more comfortable writing about other people riding bikes than doing so himself, he remains unconvinced of the merits of shaving his legs and his Cube Peloton Race still bears the scars of his first battles with clipless pedals. While he counts the (lower slopes of the) Alps and Pyrenees among the places he has ridden, family life means his body is best suited to dragging a children’s trailer along a coastal path than conquering mountains…

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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 1:19 am.

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

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.

We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to 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.

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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.

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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

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• 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. 

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.

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. 

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:

• 2013: Chris Froome 
• 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

Tour de France green jersey - points classification

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, 4, 7, 8, 11, 18, 19, 21): 50, 30, 20 points (descending to 15th place) 

Hilly stage (stages 1, 9, 10, 12, 13): 30, 25, 22 points (descending to 15th place)

Mountain stage and ITTs (5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20): 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:

• 2013:  Peter Sagan
• 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

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

Tour de france polka dot jersey - mountains classification.

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 Col de Loze, on stage 17. The souvenir Jacques Goddet to the first rider over the Col du Tourmalet on stage 16. 

Last 10 winners of the Tour de France mountains classification:

• 2013:  Nairo Quintana
• 2014:  Rafał Majka
• 2015:  Chris Froome
• 2016: Rafał Majka
• 2017: Warren Barguil
• 2018: Julian Alaphilippe
• 2019: Romain Bardet

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.

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

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.

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Adam is Cycling Weekly ’s senior news and feature writer – 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, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. 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.

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Tour De France Jersey Color Guide

The tour de france 2023 is july 1-july 22 and begins in bilbao, spain. here what each tour de france color jersey means..

Yellow? Green? White? Polka dot? What do all these jerseys mean during the Tour de France? Well, it's not just a fashion statement the cyclists are making as they cycle across Europe. 

It's a cycling statement. 

The most prestigious event in cycling begins July 1 in Bilbao, Spain. The Tour de France 2023 route will take 176 cyclists through 21 stages and finish at the Champ-Élysées in Paris.  Winning the Tour de France can be considered the biggest accomplishment a cyclist can make in their career as the race holds a rich history having occurred almost every year since 1903 . 

But wearing a certain jersey during a stage can make the career for some. 

Subscribe to FloBikes to stay up to date with Tour de France information!

Over the past few decades, crowds come together to follow cyclists as they trek across Europe. In the sea of cyclists, it's difficult to keep track of your favorite competitors. The Tour de France uses a color system to identify leaders through different classifications. 

There are four colors to watch for: yellow, green, polka dot, and white. Here is what every jersey color means. 

2023 Tour de France

Tour de france yellow jersey meaning .

Maillot Jaune 

The signature yellow jersey is the most recognizable visual of the Tour de France. 

Since 1919 every champion has arrived at the Champ-Élysées wearing the same yellow color. This jersey marks the overall leader of the race. At the end of every stage a leader is determined by a system based on time. The total amount of time taken to finish that stage is counted and then added to the cumulative time of all previous races. 

And you can even wear a yellow jersey, or win the Tour de France overall, but never win a stage. 

Yellow Jersey History

The color was created so crowds could easily identify the general classification leader. Eugène Christophe was the first rider awarded the jersey at the 1919 Tour de France. Prior to this, the Tour de France did not have a jersey system in place. Eddy Merckx holds the record for most yellow jerseys (96). 

Here are the riders who have worn the yellow jerseys the most throughout their career. 

• Eddy Merckx - 96 
• Bernard Hinault - 75
• Miguel Indurain - 60
• Chris Froome - 59
• Jacques Anquetil - 50

Tour de France Green Jersey Meaning

Maillot Verde 

Referred to as the “Sprinters Jersey” this is awarded to the rider who leads the point classification. Not to be confused with the general classification leader (yellow jersey), this color marks the “sprinters” of the group. 

Points are awarded to the first 15 riders to cross the finish line at the end of every stage. The fastest of this group earns the green jersey. Leading the point classification does not automatically mean you lead the general classification - though does occur often. In this case, the green top is worn by the rider in second place. 

Green Jersey History

The Green Jersey celebrates the fire and grit of the cyclist. The color was introduced in 1953 to celebrate the Tour de France’s 50th anniversary. Fritz Schär is the first rider to earn the jersey. Peter Sagan holds the record with seven green jerseys in his career. 

Tour De France Polka Dot Jersey, White with Red 

Maillot à Pois Rouges

“King of the Mountains”, this jersey is awarded to the leader of the Mountain Classifications. There are three main types of terrain on the Tour de France Route: Hilly, Flat, and Mountain. Each stage varies in terrain and distance for the riders to trek through. Points are given to the rider who reaches the summit of the mountains first.

The Tour de France introduced this jersey as a symbol to celebrate courageous riders who push beyond their limits.

Polka Dot Jersey History 

The polka dot jersey was first introduced in 1975 and was first awarded to Joop Zoetemelk. Richard Virenque holds the record having won it seven times.

Here are the winners of the Polka dot jersey for the past five years. From 2020-2022 the winners of the polka dot jersey also won the Tour de France. 

• 2022 - Jonas Vingegaard
• 2021- Tadej Pogačar
• 2020 - Tadej Pogačar
• 2019 - Romain Bardet
• 2018 - Julian Alaphilippe

Tour de France White Jersey Meaning

Maillot Blanc

“The Leader in Waiting,” signified by the white jersey, is awarded to the fastest cyclist under the age of 26. The purpose of this jersey is to celebrate the spirit young riders bring to the Tour de France.

White Jersey History

This color was introduced in 1968 to identify the leader of the combined classification. This changed in 1975 to be awarded to the leader of the youth classification. Italian Cyclist, Francesco Moser, is the first rider to be awarded the white jersey under the new classification. For many young riders, earning a white jersey feels all the same as a yellow one. 

Tadej Pogačar is taking over the youth classification with three consecutive wins under his belt.  Two of which overlap with overall first-place victories. 

White jersey winners of the last five years: 

• 2022 - Tadej Pogačar
• 2021 -  Tadej Pogačar
• 2019 - Egan Bernal 
• 2018 - Pierre Latour

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Tour de France Teams  

There are 22 teams and a total of 176 competitors in this year’s Tour de France:

UCI WorldTeams

• AG2R Citroën Team | Fra
• Alpecin Deceuninck | Bel
• Astana Qazaqstan Team | Kaz
• Bora-Hansgrohe | Ger
• EF Education-Easypost | Usa
• Groupama-FDJ | Fra
• Ineos Grenadiers | Gbr
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty | Bel
• Jumbo-Visma | Ned
• Movistar Team | Esp
• Soudal Quick-Step | Bel
• Team Arkea-Samsic | Fra
• Team Bahrain Victorious | Brn
• Team Cofidis | Fra
• Team DSM | Ned
• Team Jayco AlUla | Aus
• Trek-Segafredo | Usa
• UAE Team Emirates | Uae

UCI ProTeams

• Lotto Dstny | Bel
• TotalEnergies | Fra
• Israel-Premier Tech | Isr
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | Nor

When Does Tour de France 2023 Start?

The Tour de France is a 21 day event starting on July 1 through July 23. Every day the cyclists start together to complete the stage of a race. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand.  

Here is the complete schedule for the Tour de France 2023 Route

How To Watch Tour de France USA

A live broadcast will be available on NBC and Peacock. FloBikes will provide updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the entire event.

How To Watch Tour de France Canada 

FloBikes will provide a live broadcast for Canadian audiences.

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Tour de France points system: What do the yellow, green, polka-dot, and white jerseys mean?

The Tour de France kicked off on Saturday , with riders setting off from Bilbao , Spain, on July 1 and begin making their way towards Paris.

Fans of the cycle race will understand the significance of the yellow jersey, and will eagerly await to see who gets to wear it at each stage.

But newer fans and casual viewers may be wondering why certain riders are given a green jersey, or a polka-dot jersey, to wear at certain stages.

Find out everything you need to know about the point system and the jerseys below, and be sure to follow our latest coverage of the Tour de France .

What do the Tour de France jerseys mean?

There are four jerseys awarded to riders in the Tour de France :

Yellow jersey

Green jersey, polka-dot jersey, white jersey.

The yellow jersey or, as it is also known, the maillot jaune, is awarded to the overall classification leader. This is the rider who has completed the race in the least amount of time.

Officials calculate the fastest rider after each stage and the overall leader gets to wear it in the following stage.

Tour de France ’s official website says: “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.”

Reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard won his first yellow jersey at the 2022 event.

The green jersey is awarded to the rider who is leading the points classification each day according to the points they finish with at each stage, plus additional points for intermediate sprints.

The Tour de France says: “It goes without saying that this symbol of explosivity, passion, and speed is typically held by the sprinters.”

In 2021, the green jersey was won by Vingegaard’s team-mate, Wout van Aert.

The leader of the best climber classification is awarded the red-polka-dot jersey.

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Riders are awarded mountain points for summiting classified climbs first, with the number of points varying depending on the category of each ascent.

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.

The white jersey symbolises “the future and youth of the Tour de France peloton” and is awarded to the rider best placed in the overall standings, under the age of 26.

Tadej Pogačar won the white jersey in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

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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.

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

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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.

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.

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