Exactly What All the Tour de France Jerseys Colors Mean

The 21-stage race has four main individual classifications: General, Mountains, Points, and Young Riders. The rider leading the Young Rider Classification wears the White Jersey Tour de France, the Points Classification leader wears the Green Jersey, the Mountains Classification leader wears the Polka Dot Jersey Tour de France, and the one who leads the General Classification gets the prestigious Tour de France Yellow Jersey, also known as Maillot Jaune.

Classification	Jersey
General classification, overall leader	Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune)
Points Classification	Green Jersey (Maillot Vert)
Mountains Classification	Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot à Pois Rouges)
Young Rider Classification	White Jersey (Maillot Blanc)

So, that was just a quick answer to your question. Now, let’s see on what basis riders earn these Tour de France Jerseys.

Tour de France Jerseys Explained

Each Tour de France team has a unique jersey featuring the team’s name and sponsors. The jersey’s color and design make the team’s riders easily recognisable within the peloton.

Depending on the stage, a rider may pass you in the blink of an eye. Riders are the slowest on the steep climbs, with average speeds around 12-16 mph. The average speed on cobblestone sections can be around 22-24 mph, and on flat stages, it can be around 25-28 mph. Speeds of up to 70 mph on descents are not uncommon. That is why Tour de France jersey colors are bright, splashy, eye-catching and easily recognisable.

However, each of the four special jerseys (Yellow, Green, Polka dots and White) has its own meaning. These special colored jerseys often change hands at the end of each stage.

Tour de France Yellow Jersey

The French bank LCL sponsors the Yellow Jersey, also known as the Maillot Jaune. Symbolising excellence, prestige and victory, this jersey is awarded to the most well-rounded riders, those who excel on flat roads, in the mountains, and in time trials.

The Yellow Jersey is the most prestigious jersey in the Tour of de France and is awarded to the General Classification (GC) leader, the rider with the fastest cumulative time. It was introduced in 1919, making it the oldest leader’s jersey in the race. Once the race is over, the overall winner of the race gets the Yellow Jersey.

The yellow color of the jersey comes from the yellow pages of the 1919 newspaper L’Auto.

Eugène Christophe was the first rider to wear this jersey.

Fun Fact: When Eugène Christophe was asked to wear the yellow jersey, he complained that he looked like a canary and was mocked not only by his rivals but also by spectators.

Now, Maillot Jaune is the most sought-after jersey in cycling and represents the pinnacle of the sport. Only six riders have worn the Yellow Jersey for over 50 days, with Eddy Merckx holding the world record of 96 days.

Rider	Days
Eddy Merckx	96
Bernard Hinault	75
Miguel Indurain	60
Chris Froome	59
Jacques Anquetil	50

Last five winners of the Tour de France General Classification (Yellow Jersey):

Year	Winner	Team	Country
2024	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2023	Jonas Vingegaard	Team Jumbo–Visma	Denmark
2022	Jonas Vingegaard	Team Jumbo–Visma	Denmark
2021	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2020	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia

Tour de France Green Jersey

The Green Jersey was first introduced on the 50th anniversary of the Tour de France in 1953. Skoda sponsors this jersey, symbolising the explosivity, passion, and speed of sprinters. The green color comes from the first sponsor, La Belle Jardinière, a French clothing store chain. Before Skoda took over in 2015, the jersey was sponsored for 25 years by Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), a French betting company.

This is the second most important jersey after the Yellow Jersey. The points classification leader wears the Green Jersey (Maillot Vert).

How Points Are Awarded

Flat stages, dominated mainly by sprinters, provide the most points. Hilly and mountain stages offer fewer points. The time trial stages offer the least points. Most stages, except time trials, feature at least one designated sprint zone where riders can earn extra points.

Last five winners of the Tour de France Points Classification (Green Jersey):

Year	Winner	Team	Country
2024	Biniam Girmay	Intermarché–Wanty	Eritrea
2023	Jasper Philipsen	Alpecin Deceuninck	Belgium
2022	Wout van Aert	Team Jumbo-Visma	Belgium
2021	Mark Cavendish	Deceuninck-Quick Step	England
2020	Sam Bennett	Deceuninck-Quick Step	Ireland

Tour de France Polka Dot Jersey

Sponsored by E.Leclerc, the jersey is awarded to the leader of the Mountains Classification. The classification was introduced in 1933. However, the jersey symbolising this classification, the Polka Dot Jersey Tour de France, was introduced in 1975. Bernard Thévenet was the first rider to wear this jersey with red dots on a white background.  

Last five winners of the Tour de France Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey):

Year	Winner	Team	Country
2024	Richard Carapaz	EF Education-EasyPost	Ecuador
2023	Giulio Ciccone	Lidl-Trek	Italy
2022	Jonas Vingegaard	Team Jumbo–Visma	Denmark
2021	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2020	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia

Tour de France White Jersey

Sponsored by Krys, the White Jersey (Maillot Blanc) follows the same rules as the Yellow Jersey with one difference. The White Jersey is awarded to the general classification leader who was under 26 on January 1st of that year. Francesco Moser was the first rider to win the Tour de France White Jersey.

Last five winners of the Tour de France White Jersey:

Year	Winner	Team	Country
2024	Remco Evenepoel	Soudal Quick-Step	Belgium
2023	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2022	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2021	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia
2020	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	Slovenia