AI quick summary
- Yellow = overall leader (lowest total time); green = points (sprints); polka dot = mountains; white = best young rider.
- The yellow jersey is the most prestigious; the green is usually a sprinter's prize.
- The team classification has no jersey — the leading team wears yellow helmets and numbers instead.
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The four jerseys at a glance
| Jersey | Classification | How it's won | Typical wearer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow (maillot jaune) | General Classification | Lowest cumulative time | Overall contender / GC leader |
| Green (maillot vert) | Points | Most points from stages & intermediate sprints | Sprinter / fast finisher |
| Polka dot (maillot à pois) | Mountains (KoM) | Most points on categorized climbs | Climber |
| White (maillot blanc) | Young rider | Best GC rider aged under 26 | Young GC talent |
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Yellow — the overall
The yellow jersey goes to the rider with the lowest total time across all stages. It's the prize everyone remembers and the one that defines the Tour's winner. A rider can take yellow after a single stage and hold it for days, or lose it in seconds on a mountain finish.
/ 03
Green — the sprinter's prize
The green jersey rewards consistency and speed: points are awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints, with more points on flat stages. It's usually a sprinter's competition, though a strong all-rounder can win it by finishing near the front everywhere.
/ 04
Polka dot — King of the Mountains
The white jersey with red polka dots goes to the mountains classification leader. Points are awarded at the top of categorized climbs, weighted by difficulty — the hardest (HC) climbs pay the most. It often goes to an attacking climber who gets into breakaways over the mountains.
/ 05
White — best young rider
The white jersey goes to the best-placed rider under 26 on general classification. It's a leading indicator of future stars — many riders who win white go on to fight for yellow in later years.
/ 06
Other classifications
The team classification is decided by adding each team's three best riders' times each day; the leading team wears yellow helmets and race numbers (no jersey). There's also a daily combativity award — a red race number — for the most aggressive rider of the previous stage.
/ SOURCES