Tour 101: Classification Jerseys

Most people only think of the yellow jersey when they think of the Tour de Fance, but there are actually four major classification competitions that make for several exciting “races within the race”. Cavendish will be in the green sprinter’s jersey tomorrow – here’s what you need to know.

Overall Leader – The Yellow Jersey
The yellow jersey (maillot jaune in French) is worn by the overall leader of the race. It was introduced in 1919 to reflect the color of the sponsoring newspaper, L’Auto (the winner of the first Tour in 1903 wore a green armband instead). Lance Armstrong famoulsy mispronounced “maillot jaune” and earned the sometimes-nickname “Mellow Johnny” – which is now the name of his bike shop.
Team Columbia-HTC angle: Kim Kirchen wore the coveted maillot jaune for four days in last year’s Tour, a crowning moment both for him personally and Columbia-HTC. Kirchen is the team’s best hope for yellow this year, though he lost significant time in the tricky Stage 1 time trial so finding his way into yellow will now take a herculean effort in the mountains.

Points Classification – The Green Jersey
The green jersey is awarded to the most consistent rider, and is hotly contested by the world’s best sprinters (it’s often referred to as “the sprinters jersey”). At the end of each stage, points are earned by the riders who finish first, second, etc. Points are higher for flat stages, as sprints are more likely, and less for mountain stages, where climbers usually win. There are also points awarded for “intermediate sprints” at designated points throughout a stage.
Team Columbia-HTC angle: Cavendish denies that the Green Jersey is an official objective this year, noting that his goal for this tour is just to win stages and make it to Paris. But he’s already wearing green in Stage 3, and I bet you can expect the competitive Englishman to have a go at it.

King of the Mountains Classification – Polka Dot Jersey
The King of the Mountains wears a white jersey with red dots (maillot à pois rouges). The competition gives points to the first to top designated hills and mountains and double-points are awarded for the most difficult of the mountain finishes. The polka dots were introduced in 1975 at the request of the sponsoring French chocolate manufacturer, but the best climber in the tour has been recognized since 1933.

Best Young Rider Classification – White Jersey
The White jersey is worn by the best young rider (under 26 as of January 1 that year) in the general classification and was introduced in 1975. Five riders who have worn the white jersey have gone on to win the Tour (Fignon, LeMond, Pantani, Ullrich, and Contador).
 

Tour de France 2009 RSS feed