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Insider's Guide To The Colorful Jerseys Of The Tour De France

The Tour de France is, by far, the oldest, most prestigious, and spectacular bicycle race in the world, covering 3, 500 kilometers (or 2, 200 miles) of roads in France and adjacent countries. The Tour usually runs for about 23 days and draws cyclists and fans from around the globe. The race route changes each year, but always finishes in the city of Paris, France. The race itself is divided into day-long segments called, "stages." On average, there are about 20 stages to each Tour, and race officials also allow for a couple of days to be built into the race schedule for the riders to rest. Individual times to complete each stage are added together to determine the overall winner of the Tour.

Each year, the number of riders in the Tour de France varies, and there are about 20 to 25 nine-member teams that comprise the race field. Entrance to the Tour is by invitation only. Each team is named after its sponsor, and wears a distinctive, often colorful, jersey, adding much to the visuals of the sport. Team members are mutually supportive and collaborative, and much like professional race car driving teams, include team managers, mechanics, and other helpers. Team members are rigorously judged by accumulated time, known as the "general classification, " and riders are also awarded time bonuses and other prizes. There are subsidiary competitions within the Tour, adding to race-day excitement, some that carry distinctive jerseys for the best rider. It's very much the jerseys that give the Tour added excitement as riders compete for these historic symbols.

The Tour de France is a grueling sporting event, over flat terrain, mountains and rolling hills. The stages usually feature riders starting the day together, only to become time trails for individual or team competition. The Tour has been compared to a marathon, but it's probably more rigorous, given the number of days and stages the riders and teams endure. Historic moments and symbols assume greater meaning against the backdrop of individual riders and teams pushing the limits of human endurance.

The significance of competition for these special jerseys, then, cannot be overstated, and play as much of a role in the race as the bicycles themselves. The color of the jerseys, combined with stiff competition between riders and teams, make the Tour de France an exciting, colorful, must-see event.

Want to learn more about these Tour Jerseys? Here's an insider's peek at the practical and historic significance of Tour de France jerseys for riders, teams and spectators alike:

Secrets behind Classification Jerseys

Individual riders aim to win overall, but they also participate in three other competitions: (1) Points; (2) Mountains; and, (3) Best Young Rider.

The leaders of these awesome competitions wear a distinctive jersey which is awarded to the rider after each stage. When an individual rider earns more than one jersey, he wears the most prestigious and it becomes incumbent on the second rider in the other classification to wear the other jersey. The same winning rider may lead all overall and points competitions. The fastest rider, for example, will wear the yellow jersey, and the rider second in the points competition will don the green. Yellow, always yellow, is the color of enormous pride and accomplishment in the Tour de France.

Yellow Jersey or Maillot Jaune for General Classification Leader

You probably remember when seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong wore the yellow jersey. Many spectators assumed this was his team color. Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, the maillot jaune or yellow jersey is worn by the general classification leader. Interestingly, in the early days of the Tour de France, riders disliked the yellow jersey, believing its color made it too easy to be seen from the road, placing them at the mercy of their opponents. The yellow jersey, like other Tour customs, wasn't always the designated symbol for the general classificaiton leader. For example, the winner of the very first Tour de France wore a green arm band to signify his incredible cycling accomplishment.

Green Jersey or Maillot Vert for Points Classification Leader

At the end of each race segment or stage, riders earn points for finishing first, second, and so on. Higher points are awarded for stages over flat, even terrain, given the all-out speed of the riders, and a lower number of points for the slower, mountainous stages. Under current Tour rules, there are five types of stages: flat stages, intermediates stages, mountain stages, individual time trial stages and team time trial stages. The number of points for each of these stages varies and is governed by race rules. The maillot vert or green jersey is awarded to riders having the best time in the sprints.

Polka Dots or Maillot PoisRouges for Mountaineers

So, how does the mountain rider get recognized for his tremendous efforts? The "King of the Mountains" (or KoM as he is affectionately called) earns a maillot pois rouges or white jersey with red dots, making this jersey a glowing original for riders, teams and spectators alike. This jersey signifies the incredible efforts of riders as they push the limits of endurance in the Alps and other European mountain ranges. The climbs, as you can imagine, are rather steep and, consequently, categorised by Tour officials from 1, being most difficult, to 4, being least difficult, based on the angle and length of the elevation.

White Jersey or Maillot Blanc for TwentStandouts

In case you believe that young people or new riders are short-changed in this incredible race, the maillot blanc or white jersey is awarded to the best rider under the age of 25 as of January 1st of that calendar year. Once again, age trumps beauty and twenty-somethings have something to cheer about!

Special White-on-Red Number for the Prix de la Combativite

Who doesn't like riders who do everything they can to separate themselves from the pack? You know, the ones who take it to the limit? The Prix de la Combativit, as it is called, goes to the rider who shakes up the day, and breaks out from the rest of the group of riders. This combative rider earns a special number that is printed white-on-red instead of the traditional black-on-white the very next day. These are the riders about whom there is much speculation, such as whether or not their efforts will lead to an overall win. So far, history suggests that the combative rider prize doesn't necessarily guarantee success at the finish line.

Special Numbers in Black-on-Yellow for "Top Time" Teams

The team prize is determined by adding the time of each team's top three riders of each day. While team members don't get to wear special jerseys for this honor, teams certainly work hard to get these coveted black-on-yellow numbers.

This Year's Tour de France

2009 represents the 96th year of the prestigious Tour de France. Beginning on July 4, the historic bicycle competition will begin in Monaco and feature seven-time tour champion Lance Armstrong who is coming out of retirement to compete in this year's race.

RESOURCES

Official Website of Tour de France http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

History of the Tour http://www.letour.com/HISTO/TDF/us/index.html

2009 Tour de France Schedule and Course http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/calendars/printable_tour_de_france_schedule.php

Live Strong/Lance Armstrong http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/

Recommended Readings The Tour De France: A Cultural History by Christopher S. Thompson, 2006 Tour de France/Tour de Force: A Visual History by James Startt. Introduction by Greg Lemond, 2000.