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WHITE JERSEY

Although the white jersey first appeared in 1968 to reward the leader of the combined classification, which was based on the overall, points and mountains standings, it wasn’t until 1975 that it began to symbolise the future and youth of the Tour de France peloton. A leader in waiting, the wearer of the white jersey, which is sponsored by Krys, is the best placed in the overall standings who is under the age of 26. The Italian Francesco Moser was the first winner of young rider classification and illustrated perfectly its philosophy since he went on to become world champion and the victor of the 1984 Giro, and claimed 10 Classics, including three victories in Paris-Roubaix. Only Laurent Fignon (1983), Jan Ulrich (1997), Alberto Contador (2007), Andy Schleck (2010), Egan Bernal (2019) and Tadej Pogacar (2020) combined the yellow and white jerseys at the final.

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A new era for the white jersey - who will replace Pogačar as the Tour's best young rider?

With the five-time winner of the white jersey now too old to dominate the classification, which of the Tour's young upstarts will be able to take his place?

For the first time since 2019, the white jersey will be won by a rider other than Tadej Pogačar. Since announcing himself so stunningly at the 2020 Tour de France by not only winning the white jersey, but the yellow jersey, the Slovenian has turned the classification into a virtual procession. The closest anyone has come to competing with him was when Jonas Vingegaard finished 5:21 behind in 2021, and the Dane is one of only four riders to have finished within 20 minutes of his time (the others being Enric Mas in 2020, and both Carlos Rodríguez and Felix Gall last year).

Pogačar’s dominance has been so comprehensive as to call into question the viability of the white jersey classification in its current form. He is the leading example of how riders of this current generation have come into their prime much earlier than in the past, meaning that classification — which was intended to be the domain of emerging talent and future stars — is now competed for among riders who are also good enough to challenge for the yellow jersey.

Read more: Tour de France favourites 2024: Who will win this year's yellow jersey?

Consequently, there have been calls to change the criteria regarding who qualifies, from reducing the maximum age from its current limit of riders who will be under 26 by the end of the calendar year, to restricting eligibility to neo-pros, or riders making their Tour debut.

For now, though, the rules remain the same, and so the jersey will be contested for by some riders who are already among the biggest and best GC riders in the peloton. Read on to see who we’ve backed as the leading candidates, and what their chances are of winning it.

Remco Evenepoel

The obvious favourite to win the jersey is Remco Evenepoel. The Soudal–Quick-Step rider is easily the biggest name among the candidates, and the only rider among them to have already won a Grand Tour. And given how much some of the opening week stages suit him (especially the stage seven time trial) it’d be a surprise not to see him in the white jersey at some point this Tour — the main impediment might be that he’s in yellow instead.

Yet victory is far from a foregone conclusion. While Evenepoel is expected to make a massive impression on his Tour debut, that won’t necessarily translate as a high GC finish. It’s telling that, as brilliant as he has been in Grand Tours already, the only time he has won the young riders’ classification in his four past appearances was during his victorious 2022 Vuelta a España ride.

Evenepoel will have his focus on yellow rather than white in his Tour debut (Billy Ceusters/ASO)

He’s not the kind of rider who is happy to ride cautiously to secure a lower top 10 finish, and nor is the prospect of winning a white jersey such a big deal for a rider who has already achieved so much. If he does fall out of contention for the yellow jersey, his priority may well be to revert to chasing stage wins rather than GC and the white jersey.

Carlos Rodríguez

Were it not for Pogačar, Carlos Rodríguez would have been crowned the best young rider at last year’s Tour. The Spaniard impressed massively on debut last year, finishing fifth in the general classification as well as winning a stage in the Alps, and, having only turned 23 earlier this year, still has scope for plenty of improvement.

He’s already come on more this year, with first, second and fourth at the Tour de Romandie, Itzulia Basque Country and Critérium du Dauphiné among his results in the top stage races; and, unlike many of the other white jersey candidates, has the advantage of not being expected to fulfil a domestique role, as Ineos Grenadiers' GC leader. The yellow jersey might be beyond him in such an elite field, but the white jersey is very much within his reach.

At just 21 years old, Juan Ayuso might be one of the youngest riders among the white jersey candidates, but he also boasts what is arguably the most accomplished Grand Tour record. He’s ridden two already, and has done brilliantly in both, making the podium of the 2022 Vuelta a España on Grand Tour debut, and followed that up with fourth overall the next year behind Jumbo-Visma’s podium clean sweep.

Ayuso may see his opportunities pushed aside to support Pogačar (Zac Williams/SWPix)

The Spaniard certainly has the credentials, but is he fit enough? He had to abandon the Critérium du Dauphiné after a nasty crash, and hasn’t raced since. And to what extent will he be able to chase personal ambitions like the white jersey while he is tasked with aiding Pogačar’s bid for yellow?

Matteo Jorgenson

One of the best riders of the 2024 season so far has been Matteo Jorgenson. He won Paris-Nice back in March, suggesting he’d make for an excellent new super-domestique in Visma-Lease a Bike’s Tour line-up; then, by finishing second overall at Critérium du Dauphiné mere seconds behind Primož Roglič, he made a strong case to deputise as the team’s leader in the event that Jonas Vingegaard did not recover from his injuries.

The big question hanging over the American is whether he can translate this form into the three-week format of Grand Tours. The white jersey has historically been a revealing indication as to which riders will be future yellow jersey contenders, so if he can compete for it in this race (even while working in service for Vingegaard), a bright future as a Grand Tour contender looms ahead of him.

Santiago Buitrago

Newest Colombian talent Santiago Buitrago has shown considerable potential in flashes over the last few years, notably making the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year and winning an uphill finish against stiff competition at this year’s Paris-Nice.

Such results have been enough for Bahrain-Victorious to designate him their GC leader for the Tour, and he has a consistent record at Grand Tours, finishing 12th, 13th and 10th in his last three. He’ll need to make another leap to win the white jersey against such a class field of young riders, but could be capable of doing so.

Lenny Martinez

The wildcard among the white jersey contenders is Lenny Martinez. Not only is he the youngest among them, having not yet turned 21, he’s also a late entry onto Groupama-FDJ’s line-up — team boss Marc Madiot is perhaps dreaming of his new French talent leaving a similar mark on the Tour as the recently-retired Thibaut Pinot did on debut 12 years ago.

Martinez's mixed form and late call-up makes him a wildcard pick for the young rider classification (Zac Williams/SWPix)

His form was patchy at the recent Tour de Suisse, where he struggled initially before finishing fifth on the penultimate mountain top finish and sixth in the time trial. But he has such raw talent that there’s no telling where his ceiling will be at this Tour.

Others to watch out for

This Tour line-up is bursting with young talent, from the French contingent of Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) and recently crowned national champion Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), to international names such as springtime star Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Irish powerhouse Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)

None of these riders are recognised as GC contenders, and therefore unlikely to be in the mix for the white jersey, but are young enough to develop hitherto dormant abilities — just as 24-year-old Oier Lazkano (Movistar) did at Critérium du Dauphiné this month, where he surprised to finish in the top 10 overall.

Elsewhere, Tobias Halland Johannsessen (Uno-X Mobility) and Javi Romo (Movistar) are more proven as climbers and stage racers, while Oscar Onley is the latest of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s carousel of young talent.

Cover image by Billy Ceusters/ASO

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Tour de France Competitions Points, KOM, Young Rider, Team GC

Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available as an audiobook here. For the print and kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

The Tour de France has other competitions going on besides the Yellow Jersey for lowest elapsed time.

King of the Mountains: The first award for the best climber was in 1933. The famous Polka-Dot jersey was worn by Lucien van Impe in 1975.

Points : The green jersey is awarded to the rider with the lowest accumulated total placings. A sprinter usually wins this jersey.

Young Rider: The winner wears a white jersey. It is awarded to the best rider under 25 years old.

Team Classification: Awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative time based on each day's top three finishing riders from each team.

Tour de France Winners, Podium and Times as well as links to all other Tour de France information on our site

Tour statistics (dates, distances, etc.)

Tour de France prizes, winners and total prize pools, by year

From 1930 to 1961 plus 1967 and 1968, national and regional rather than trade teams competed

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Results have arrived, tour de france explained: how you win & how it really works.

What do the Yellow, Green, and Polka-Dot Jerseys mean? How do you win? How do cycling teams work? Who are the favorites? We explain the basics of bike racing in this guide to the Tour de France.

Written by: Spencer Powlison & Bruce Lin

Published on: Jun 18, 2024

Posted in: Features

Did you recently get bit by the  road bike  bug? Did you watch Tour de France: Unchained and feel hungry for more? Or have you always been puzzled by the daily deluge of Tour de France news? This guide is for you.

We’ll cover the fundamentals of how this “game” is played. Also, we’ll delve into cycling’s paradoxical balance between being simultaneously a team sport and an individual sport, and many ways riders and teams play to win. 

• How the Tour de France Works
• How To Win The Tour de France - the Yellow Jersey

Other Ways to "Win" at the Tour de France

How cycling is actually a team sport... sort of.

• What Types of Riders Make Up a Team?

What Types of Stages Are in the Tour?

Strategies and tactics, three tips to watch like a pro, more fun tour de france info.

[button] Shop Road Bikes [/button]

How The Tour de France Works

The tour de france: infographic.

What is the Tour de France?

• The Tour de France is the world's most prestigious bike race which has been running for over 100 years. 
• The Tour takes riders all across France, through the Alps and the Pyranees, and finishes in Paris. 
• This year it will take place: June 29 - July 21, 2024
• The total race distance this year: 3,492 Km / 2,170 Mi 
• The Grand Départ - The Tour de France often starts somewhere outside of France so other cities and countries can experience the excitement of the Tour. This year, the Tour will start in Florence, Italy. The first 3 stages will head north, back into France. 

Key Details 

• 22 pro cycling teams will compete with 8 riders each ( 176 riders total )
• The race is split into 21 stages
• Riders race 1 stage per day
• Each stage has a stage winner. Winning a single stage at the Tour is a big deal. 
• On average, racers will ride over 100 miles per stage .
• Riders will get 2 rest days , one after the first week, and another after the second week.  
• The overall winner of the Tour de France is the rider with the fastest time after all 21 stages . 

How To Win The Tour de France - the Yellow Jersey

The winner of the Tour de France is the rider who has the fastest time after all 21 stages. Every stage is timed from start to finish, and every second counts toward the race's General Classification (GC). Every day, the current leader of the race will wear the Yellow Jersey so they are easy to spot. The rider wearing the Yellow Jersey when the race reaches the last stage Paris is the winner . 

Yellow Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

The big favorite this year is  2020 & 2021 winner Tadej Pogačar. He is on good form and his top rival,  2022 & 2023 winner Jonas Vingegaard , suffered a bad crash/injury this spring that affected his preparation. 

The two other main favorites this year are Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel .  Carlos Rodriguez is also looking very good, but has yet win or podium a 3 week Grand Tour. This could be his breakout year and he's my dark horse pick. 

Outside contenders include Jonas Vinegaard's teamates, Sepp Kuss  (edit: Sepp won't be going due to illness) and Matteo Jorgenson , and Tadej Pogačar 's teammates, Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates . They'll really only have a chance at Yellow if their team leaders struggle or drop out.  

[newsletter]

The Yellow Jersey is the biggest prize, but there are multiple secondary prizes on offer too. Some teams and riders don’t even bother racing for the Yellow Jersey and instead focus on these prizes . 

Just like the Yellow Jersey, the current leader in each classification wears a special jersey color so they're easy to spot.

Points Classification - the Green Jersey

Also known as the sprinter’s jersey , this award goes to the rider who scores the most points throughout the race. Points are earned by finishing in the top-15 in a stage.

This classification favors “pure” sprinters (riders who don't compete on mountain stages), and more points are offered for winning flat stages. Riders can also earn points in mid-stage "intermediate sprints" that are usually stationed in towns to please the fans.

Green Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Jasper Philipsen dominated the sprint stages last year and he is currently the fastest sprinter in the world. He's already taken some big wins this spring, showing that he's in great form. I wouldn't bet against Philipsen, but t he best-ranked sprinters behind him are Arnaud De Lie and Dylan Groenewegen .

Other contenders include all-rounders like Mads Pedersen , who could go for green by nabbing consistent finishes on hilly and mountain stages where pure sprinters might struggle and stealing points throughout the race in  intermediate sprints.  Wout van Aert  is similar, and he has also won green before (and 9 stages), but his form is unknown after a major crash/injury sidelined him this spring. 

One sprinter to watch is Mark Cavendish . He is currently tied with Eddy Merckx for the all-time Tour de France stage win record (34 wins) and is coming back for one last year to try and score a record-breaking 35th win. 

King of the Mountains Classification - the Polka-Dot Jersey

The Tour gives the Polka-Dot “ King of the Mountains ” Jersey to the rider who collects the most points over the course of the race by reaching the summit of categorized climbs first.

The climb categorization system is opaque and subjective. What you need to know is that there are five climb categories. From easiest to hardest they are: category 4,  category 3,  category 2,  category 1, and hors category (HC - French for “beyond categorization”). Riders get more points on harder climbs. Riders also get more points on mountaintop stage finishes, especially if they win.

Polka-Dot Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Giulio Ciccone beat Neilson Powless last year for the Polka-Dots. Photo: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet

This one is tough to call until you reach the high mountains. Because the Yellow Jersey winner tends to gain the most time on climbs, anyone who’s in contention for the Yellow Jersey is a good bet. I'd put my money on Tadej Pogacar .

However, some riders might specifically target the Polka-Dot Jersey — 2023 winner,  Giulio Ciccone,  battled over the Polka-Dots with Neilson Powless last year. Maybe they will go for it again. 

Other Prizes

Best Young Rider Classification - White Jersey

This classification works the same way as the Yellow Jersey but is awarded to the highest-placed rider under 26 years of age. On rare occasions, a phenomenal young rider will win both the Yellow and White Jerseys. 

White Jersey Favorites & Riders to Watch:

Tadej Pogačar . This is an easy pick. Tadej is still 25, and as the favorite for the  overall win, it's doubtful anyone else can challenge him. 

Time to pick a new favorite since Tadej is finally too old! (The rule is " cyclists who will remain below 26 in the year the race is held are eligible" and Tadej turns 26 in September.)  In that case, Remco Evenepoel , Carlos Rodriguez , and Juan Ayuso are likely candidates. 

If the White Jersey leader also happens to be the overall leader (this happened in previous years when Tadej was in Yellow), then the next highest placed rider under 26 will generally wear the jersey during the race (this is mainly ceremonial).

Best Team Classification - Yellow Helmets

Like the Yellow or White Jerseys, this award is given based on overall time in the race and the team with the lowest overall time wins this prize . Each team tabulates the finish times of its three best riders on every stage. The team leading this classification usually wears yellow helmets, helping them stand out in the bunch.

Teams don't necessarily target this, but if a team realizes they're leading in week two or three, they definitely fight to try and hang on to it. 

Most Aggressive Rider - Red Number

Also known as the Combativity Award , this is likely the most mysterious prize in the Tour. In every stage (except time trials), a jury decides which rider in the race was most aggressive — usually, that means attacking a lot or gambling on a breakaway. Late in the broadcast, the announcers usually note which rider was given the combativity prize. If you spot a rider with a red number on their jersey, then he was named most aggressive the stage prior. At the end of the Tour, one rider gets the Super Combativity award.

Why are there teams if only one rider can win the Tour de France? Professional road cycling has a curious tension between the team and the individual. The key thing to remember is this: If a cyclist wins a stage or holds one of the leader’s jersey for a single stage, it is viewed as a team success . 

So if only one rider “wins,” what do the other seven riders on the team do to contribute to this elusive concept of teamwork? Here are some ways a group of individual cyclists comes together as a team to support their leader:

• Getting into breakaways (small groups that attack off the front of the main group) — that way his team doesn’t have to work to chase the breakaway down.
• Chasing down breakaways — to give the leader a chance to win or place well.
• Retrieving food and water for the leader or other key riders — bottle service on the road … what could be more luxurious!
• Pacing the leader up key climbs — although drafting isn’t as crucial, it can be a psychological advantage to have a teammate at your side.
• Pacing the leader back to the peloton in the event of a crash, mechanical, or split in the group — without teammates to draft, it might be nearly impossible to rejoin the peloton on some fast-paced stages.
• Giving the leader their bike or a wheel in the event of a mechanical — this can often be quicker than waiting for a team car or neutral support to show up with a spare.

What Types of Riders Make Up a Team? 

GC (general classification) riders - These are the riders vying for the Tour de France overall win. They need to be solid all-rounders who are also good climbers and time trialists. They are usually the team leader and the rest of the team works to support them. 

Sprinters - Sprinters don’t contend for the overall win, and are more interested in winning individual stages. They often wait to attack at intermediate sprints and the finish line of each stage. Some teams are built entirely around a sprinter and focus on winning stages or the Green Jersey. 

Climbers - Climbing specialists excel at going uphill. Climbers compete for stage wins on the tough mountain stages or work to support their GC leader in the mountains. 

Domestiques - Most riders on the team will work as “domestiques” to support their team leader. They allow their leaders to draft behind them to conserve energy, pace them up climbs, cover attacks from competitors, keep them in a good position, bring them food and water, and provide support in case of crashes or mechanicals. Good domestiques are essential for success. 

Time Trialists - Some riders specialize in time trialing. They can compete for wins on time trial stages or work as powerful domestiques on flat and hilly stages.  

The Tour de France route is different every year. Each stage is unique and offers different challenges to the riders. Here are the types of stages riders will contend with over three weeks:

Flat Stages - Flat stages are the ideal hunting ground for sprinters. Teams with sprinters will often work to keep the peloton together on flat stages, to ensure it ends in a bunch sprint where their sprinter has the best chance of winning. 

Hilly Stages - Hilly stages mix it up with rolling hills that make it more difficult for the peloton to stay together. These types of stages can be won by sprinters, climbers, or breakaway specialists. 

Mountain Stages - This is often where the Tour de France is won and lost. Mountain stages climb up into the high mountains in the Alps and the Pyrenees and it's where GC contenders will fight to gain time on their rivals.  

Time Trials - The Tour de France always features at least a couple of time trial stages. Riders set off individually to set the fastest time on a set course. With no riders to draft, it’s less about race tactics and more about pure speed and power.

So we just covered some team dynamics, rider types, and stage types. How does it all fit together? Teams often settle on strategies prior to the race. They assess their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to succeed — whether that means winning the yellow jersey or simply wearing a King of the Mountains jersey for just one stage. Here are some examples of how teams might set their strategies, and how they might execute them with the right tactics:

Team with a top GC rider: Naturally, they’ll try to win the yellow jersey. This means surviving inconsequential flat and rolling stages to conserve energy for key mountain stages and individual time trials. The leader’s teammates will try to get into breakaways so that their team won’t spend energy chasing all day. They’ll also set up the team leader to attack on key climbs or at least follow his rivals to defend his position.

Team with top sprinter: To win the green jersey, they’ll target the flat stages. This means controlling the peloton and chasing down breakaways to set up a sprint finish. Like the GC team, they might also put a rider in the breakaway to ease the burden on the team, forcing rival sprint teams to chase. On mountain stages, the team might have to call riders back from the peloton to help pace their sprinter to the finish so he doesn’t get time-cut.

Team with top climber: Winning the King of the Mountains (KOM) classification is often less of an obvious team effort. These pretenders to the throne tend to be opportunistic. However, it is advantageous to have a teammate in the breakaway on a key mountain stage when points are up for grabs. Also, when defending the polka-dot jersey, teammates can contest the climbs and finish ahead of KOM rivals to spoil their attempt to take over the classification lead by scoring points.

Smaller team without top leader: These are the teams that always try to put a rider in the day’s breakaway. This could earn them the Combativity Prize, or if they play their cards right, a stint in a leader’s jersey or even a stage win. This strategy requires constant attacking in the early kilometers of the race — something most fans rarely see on the broadcast. It is a hectic, painful part of the stage, but it’s crucial in establishing a break. Meanwhile, a breakaway rider’s teammates might patrol the front of the peloton to disrupt the chase.

Now that you understand the basics of how the Tour de France is raced, what do you, the new cycling fan do? There are daily stages for three weeks. That’s a lot of cycling!

Even if you don't have a way to watch the TV broadcast, it's easy to find highlights and extended highlights on YouTube. Fortunately, you don’t have to put your life on hold to watch the Tour de France. There are some reliably important stages you can focus on to catch the key action.

Can’t watch daily? Pick the key mountain stages. There are usually about 5-8 key mountain stages when the overall race is won and lost. Most of them are summit finishes, and they’re split between France’s two key mountain ranges: the Alps and Pyrenees. The first few ordinarily come in stages 6-9 before the first rest day, and the second round is often scheduled for the final week of racing. Occasionally, another summit finish, such as Mont Ventoux in Provence, will be on the list of important stages.

Watching daily? Tune in when things really heat up. On most flat stages, you can wait until the final 20 kilometers to tune in and see the sprinters fight it out. Some rolling stages might be entertaining in the final 50-60 kilometers if late breakaways occur. On mountain stages, it’s best to start watching as early as possible because sometimes, crazy things happen on the day’s first climbs.

Watching a LOT of TDF? Look for the nuances. If you’re going to have the race on all day, every day, you’ll need to dig a little deeper to enjoy the subtleties of the race. Try keeping track of riders who are often making the breakaway. Watch the sprint teams work together — or not — to chase an escape. Who looks to have strength in numbers, and who is not present at the front of the race? Are the GC riders staying out of trouble or tail-gunning at the dangerous back of the peloton? Usually, at any given time in the race, any given rider is positioned where they are for a specific reason. Look for clues to sort out what is happening.

[button] The Stage-Winning Bikes from the 2024 Tour de France [/button]

[button] What Tour de France Racers Eat [/button]

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[button] The History of Innovative Tour de France Tech [/button]

[button] The Best Bikes of the Tour 2010-2019 [/button]

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Young rider classification in the Tour de France

The young rider classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France , that started in 1975 . Excluding the years 1989 to 1999 , the leader of the young rider classification wears a white jersey ( French : maillot blanc ). It goes to whichever eligible rider has the best time in the general classification .

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Jerseys ranking, by nationality, days in white jersey, external links.

The requirements to be eligible for the young rider classification have changed over the years but have always been such that experienced cyclists were not eligible, sometimes by excluding cyclists over a certain age, cyclists who had entered the Tour de France before, or cyclists who had been professional for more than two years. In the most recent years, only cyclists who will remain below 26 in the year the race is held are eligible.

In the Tour de France Femmes , the white jersey is awarded to the highest placed rider in the general classification under the age of 23. [1]

From 1968 to 1975 , there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification (best rider in the overall, points and climbing competitions). In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the young rider classification . Any neo-professional (less than three years professional) competed in this classification, which was calculated using the rankings for the general classification. [2] The leader in the young rider classification wore a white jersey.

The rules for the young rider classification changed in 1983 , when the competition was only open for first-time competitors, but in 1987 it became open for all cyclists less than 26 years of age at 1 January of the year following that tour. [3] From 1989 - 1999 , the white jersey was no longer awarded, although the competition was still calculated. Since 2000 , the white jersey has again been awarded, open for all cyclists less than 26 years of age at 1 January of the year following that Tour. In 1997 , the name of the competition officially changed to 'Souvenir Fabio Casartelli '. [4]

The optical retail chain Krys has sponsored the white jersey since 2015 . [5] The jersey was previously sponsored by Czech car manufacturer Škoda from 2004 to 2014.

The white jersey is the fourth most important jersey in the Tour de France, after yellow, green and polka dot jerseys. [6] [7] If a rider lead one of the other classifications and the young rider classification, he will wear the yellow, green or the polka dot jersey. The second rider (or the following eligible rider) in the young rider classification will wear the white jersey with the following exception:

• if the second rider is world champion he will wear the rainbow jersey . If the rider is a contintinental champion or national champion he will wear the corresponding jersey; [8] [9]

In this case the third rider (or the following eligible rider) will be in white jersey.

Since the young rider classification was introduced in 1975, it has been won by 40 different cyclists. On seven occasions a cyclist has won the young rider classification and the general classification   — Laurent Fignon in 1983 , Jan Ullrich in 1997 , Alberto Contador in 2007 , Andy Schleck in 2010 , Egan Bernal in 2019 and Tadej Pogačar in 2020 and 2021 . The only cyclists to win the young rider classification and the mountains classification in the same year are Nairo Quintana in 2013 and Pogačar in 2020 and 2021 .

The only cyclists to win the young rider classification multiple times are Marco Pantani (two wins), Jan Ullrich (three wins   — also finishing first once or second twice in the general classification), Andy Schleck (three wins   — also finishing first once and second once in the general classification), Nairo Quintana (two wins   — also finishing second in the general classification both years), and Tadej Pogačar (four wins   — also finishing first twice and second twice in the general classification). Quintana is the only rider to win the classification in non-consecutive years. Pogačar holds the absolute record of wearing the white jersey for 75 days in total. Tadej Pogačar also has the record of leading the young rider classification for 72 consecutive stages, between stage 13 of the 2020 Tour de France and the end of the 2023 Tour de France.

Note: 1989-1999 editions, when the classification didn't have a distinctive jersey are also taken into account.

Riders leading all stages of an edition

Related research articles.

The mountains classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1933. It is given to the rider that gains the most points for reaching mountain summits first. The leader of the classification is named the King of the Mountains , and since 1975 wears the polka dot jersey , a white jersey with red polka dots.

The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th edition of the Tour de France and took place from 5 to 27 July. Jan Ullrich's victory margin of 9:09 was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10:32. Since 1997 no rider has had this convincing of a win with the closest margin to Ullrich's victory being Vincenzo Nibali winning the 2014 Tour de France with a gap of 7:39. Ullrich's simultaneous victories in both the general classification and the young riders' classification marked the first time the same rider had won both categories in the same Tour since Laurent Fignon in 1983. The points classification was won by Ullrich's teammate Erik Zabel, for the second time, and their team Team Telekom also won the team classification. The mountains classification was won by Richard Virenque for the fourth time.

Since the first Tour de France in 1903, there have been 2,205 stages, up to and including the final stage of the 2021 Tour de France. Since 1919, the race leader following each stage has been awarded the yellow jersey.

The points classification is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, which started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition. The leader is indicated by a green jersey , which has become a metonym for the points classification competition.

The 2013 Tour de France was the 100th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on the island of Corsica on 29 June and finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 21 July. The Tour consisted of twenty-one stages and covered a total distance of 3,403.5 km (2,115 mi). The overall general classification was won by Chris Froome of Team Sky. Second and third respectively were Nairo Quintana and the Team Katusha rider Joaquim Rodríguez.

Rafał Majka is a Polish professional road bicycle racer, who rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. He is known as a strong climber, and rose to prominence at the 2013 Giro d'Italia, where he finished 7th overall, and 6th one year later; he has taken fifteen victories during his professional career.

The 2014 Giro d'Italia was the 97th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races.

Adam Richard Yates is a British professional road and track racing cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. Yates placed fourth overall at the 2016 Tour de France and became the first British rider to win the young rider classification, one year ahead of his twin brother Simon Yates.

The 2014 Vuelta a España took place between 23 August and 14 September 2014 and was the 69th edition of the race. It featured eight mountain stages, five hill stages, five flat stages, and three time trials, two of which appeared at the beginning and end of the race. Jerez de la Frontera, on the Spanish south coast, hosted the opening stage. The Vuelta then went counterclockwise, through the south-east and east of the country before crossing the north and finishing in Santiago de Compostela. This was the first time in 21 years that the race has finished outside Madrid.

Tadej Pogačar , also known as Pogi , is a Slovenian professional cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. His victories include three Tours de France, the 2024 Giro d'Italia, and six one-day Monuments. Comfortable in time-trialing, one-day classic riding and grand-tour climbing, he has been compared to legendary all-round cyclists such as Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault as one of the sport's greatest.

Jonas Vingegaard Hansen is a Danish professional cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam Visma–Lease a Bike. He is best known for winning the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Tour de France.

The 2020 Tour de France was the 107th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's three Grand Tours. Originally scheduled to start on 27 June 2020, it was postponed until 29 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France. The race began in Nice on 29 August and concluded with its traditional run on the Champs-Élysées on 20 September. A total of 176 riders from 22 teams participated in the race. The overall general classification was won for the first time by a Slovenian, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates. His fellow countryman Primož Roglič finished second, while Australian Richie Porte (Trek–Segafredo) came third.

The 2019 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain, Andorra and France between 24 August and 15 September 2019. The race was the 74th edition of the Vuelta a España and is the final Grand Tour of the 2019 cycling season. The race started with a team time trial in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.

The 2021 Tour de France was the 108th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's three grand tours. Originally planned for the Danish capital of Copenhagen, the start of the 2021 Tour was transferred to Brest because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Copenhagen hosting four matches in the UEFA Euro 2020, which had also been rescheduled to 2021 because of the pandemic. Originally scheduled for 2 to 25 July 2021, the Tour was moved to 26 June to 18 July 2021 to avoid the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics. This would have been the first occasion on which the Tour de France had visited Denmark. Denmark instead hosted the Grand Départ in 2022.

The 2020 Tour de France is the 107th edition of Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Tour began in Nice with a hilly stage on 29 August, and Stage 12 occurred on 10 September with a hilly stage from Chauvigny. The race finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 20 September.

The 2022 Tour de France was the 109th edition of the Tour de France. It started in Copenhagen, Denmark on 1 July 2022 and ended with the final stage on the Champs-Élysées, Paris on 24 July 2022. Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard won the general classification for the first time. Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogačar finished in second place, and former winner Geraint Thomas finished third. This was the first Tour since 1989 in which each of the three podium finishers had made the podium on a previous occasion.

The 2023 Tour de France was the 110th edition of the Tour de France. It started in Bilbao, Spain, on 1 July and ended with the final stage at Champs-Élysées, Paris, on 23 July.

The 2024 Tour de France was the 111th edition of the Tour de France. It started in Florence, Italy, on 29 June, and finished in Nice, France, on 21 July. The race did not finish in Paris for the first time since its inception, owing to preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

• ↑ "Cycling Revealed" .
• ↑ "La Vuelta 2016" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-02 . Retrieved 2011-07-02 .
• ↑ "Tour Xtra: White Jersey" .
• ↑ Long, M. (9 April 2015). "Krys eyes Tour de France's white jersey" . SportsPro . Retrieved 21 June 2016 . In addition to continuing as the official optician of the prestigious cycling race – a role it began last year – Krys will also sponsor the tour's white jersey, awarded to the best young rider under the age of 25.
• ↑ "Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF) . Letour.fr . 8 July 2023 . Retrieved 8 July 2023 . There is an established order of priority for the different leaders' jerseys: the yellow jersey, followed by the green jersey, then the red polka-dot jersey and finally the white jersey
• ↑ "UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES" (PDF) . 2023-06-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-30 . Retrieved 2023-07-24 . 2.6.018 - [...] If a rider is leading more than one classification, the order of priority of the distinctive jerseys shall be as follows: 1. general classification by time; 2. general classification by points; 3. general climber's classification; 4. others (young rider, combined, etc.); the order of priority among these other jerseys shall be set by the organiser.
• ↑ "Tour de France RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF) . Letour.fr . 8 July 2023 . Retrieved 8 July 2023 . However, if this rider is required to wear his world, continental or national champion's jersey, then he will wear this jersey
• ↑ "UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS - PART 2 ROAD RACES" (PDF) . 2023-06-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-30 . Retrieved 2023-07-24 . 2.6.018 - [...] In this situation, the organiser may require another rider next on the relevant classification to wear a jersey which is not being worn by the leader of that classification. However, if this rider must wear his world or national champion's jersey, or the leader's jersey of a UCI cup, circuit, series or classification, he shall wear that jersey.
• ↑ Philipot finished 24th in this Tour, four places behind 24-year-old Luis Alberto Camargo , who would have won the young rider competition, if his directeur sportif had registered him for the competition
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Tour de France Guide

Regulations of the tour.

Overall ranking

The general overall individual time ranking is established by adding together the times achieved by each rider in the 21 stages.

Points ranking

The individual points ranking is obtained by adding together the points recorded in the individual rankings for each stage, according to the following tables:

Best climber ranking

The best overall climber ranking is established by adding together the points obtained on all passes or climbs, based on the following tables:

Summits that lie within the second half of a stage, and that are over 2,000 metres, earn double the points for the mountains classification.

In addition to points for the mountains classification, certain summits bring time bonuses for the general classification: each of these locations is known as a "Bonus Point".

Irrespective of the category of the climb, a Bonus Point offers -8, -5 and -3 seconds to the first 3 at the summit

Young rider ranking

The young rider classification is reserved for riders aged 25 or under. The one that is best ranked in the general classification on time is the daily leader of the young riders. At the end of the last stage, he is declared winner of the young rider classification.

Ranking by team

The general overall team ranking is established by adding together the three best individual times of each team in all stages.

Combative ranking

In games, by contrast to reality, the most combative is not designated by a jury. It is the rider who has cycled the most kilometres at the head of the race. The most combative is the rider who has cycled the most during a Tour de France.

Stage rankings

At each stage (apart from the time trial stages), the first 3 win time bonuses: -10, -6 and -4 seconds.

14 Tour de France rules you probably didn't know

The world's biggest bike race has a comprehensive set of rules - here are some regulations that may not be commonly known

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The Tour de France is cycling’s most prestigious race, but even so there are probably some rules and regulations governing the running of the event and the conduct of the riders, teams and staff which you probably haven’t heard of. 

From glass containers to race numbers, here are a selection of rules you may not know: 

1. Glass containers

Under article 6b of the regulations, carrying using glass containers is strictly prohibited. 

2. Waterproofs

Article 5 states that the wearing of leader waterproofs other than those provided by the race organisers is forbidden. 

3. TVs in team cars

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Teams have to ensure no accredited vehicle belonging to them has a television in front of their vehicle, under article 9. 

Competitors who commit assault, utter insults, threaten or wilfully cause delays or demonstrations will be penalised - Article 9.

5. Level crossings

If a group of riders gets split into two as the result of a level crossing closing, the first part of the group will be slowed down or stopped to allow the riders that have been delayed to regain their place in said group - Article 19.

6. Glasses at official proceedings

Official proceedings at the start and finish of races dictates that, out of respect for the public, the wearing of glasses (and sunglasses) - other than prescription ones - simply isn’t allowed.

In the event of a tie in the general ranking, the number of stage victories are added up for each rider, followed by the number of intermediate sprint victories; if there is still no clear winner, the individual time ranking is used - Article 24.

8. Race numbers

Article 2 states it is strictly forbidden to make changes to official items, such as bibs or numbers plates. 

9. Spraying from team car

Any spraying of competitors from a team vehicle is strictly forbidden - Article 6b.

10. Indecent appearance

Under article 28.2, ASO may exclude from the event any team or any of its members in the event of customs fraud or indecent appearance. 

11. Gambling

In order to avoid any risk of a conflict of interest, the teams and each of their members (riders, supervisory staff, trainers, doctors, etc.) are obliged not to personally take part in sports betting ventures concerning the Tour de France, either directly or through an intermediary - Article 30.

12. Retirement

Any notably unjustified retirement may lead to the withdrawal of all prizes won since the start of the race - Article 8.

13. Refusing to take part in official proceedings

Under article 21, any prize-winner who refuses to take part in the official proceedings at the start and the finish in his race outfit will be penalised. 

14. Splits in the bunch

All riders in a given bunch shall be credited with the same time when they cross the finishing line. A split occurs when the gap of over 1 second is noted between two riders. Timekeeper–commissaires shall give a new time. However, in stages expected to finish in bunch sprints, the time gap required for a split shall be 3 seconds - Article 14. 

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

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

POOL LEQUIPPE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Colin Henrys

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.

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 lowest cumulative time.

Each rider’s time is recorded on every stage and the GC ranks the entire field by the cumulative time of each rider across all stages ridden. 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 Visma–Lease a bike) won his second Tour de France on the trot in 2023, beating Tadej Pogačar (Team UAE Emirates), winner two editions of the Tour de France himself (2020 and 2021).

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 Cime de la Bonette, the highest peak of the 2024 Tour de France and the country's highest tarmac road, on stage 19 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

Lidl-Trek's Giulio Ciccone won his first polka-dot jersey in 2023, relegating Jonas Vingegaard, the 2022 winner, into third place.

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 – a 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 Jasper Philipsen in 2023, 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, 1999 (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 earlier stages of their careers.

Tour de France white jersey explained

The youth classification is signified by a white jersey.

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 2023, as he was the year before.

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.

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The Tour de France returns in all of its glory on Saturday, June 29, with no shortage of major storylines going into cycling’s most prestigious race. Can Jonas Vingegaard, winner in back-to-back years, become history’s ninth cyclist to win at least three Tour de France races? His primary competition, Tadej Pogačar, aims for the same feat and the yellow jersey after finishing second in 2022 and 2023. Elsewhere, Primož Roglič seeks the elusive Tour de France victory that has eluded him.

Before cyclists embark on their massive trek, get up to speed with everything you need to know for the 111th Tour de France, which is streaming on Peacock on NBC.

How does the 2024 Tour de France work?

This year’s Tour de France is unique for several reasons. It will begin in Florence, Italy, for the first time in the event’s history. This starting point honors the 100-year mark since an Italian won the Tour de France, achieved by Ottavio Bottecchia in 1924. With the Paris Olympics starting in late July, 2024 features the first-ever Tour de France that won’t conclude in France’s capital city. Instead, it will finish in Nice, France. Riders will complete 21 stages across three weeks, starting in Florence, Italy on Saturday, June 29, and ending on Sunday, July 21. The entire Tour De France will cover a total distance of 3,492 km (2,170 miles), with riders competing in one stage per day and receiving one rest day at the end of each week.

How to watch every stage of the 2024 Tour de France: Stages, schedule, start times, live stream info

Who is riding in the Tour de France 2024?

The favorite to win the 2024 Tour de France is Tadej Pogačar , a member of the UAE Team Emirates . At 25 years old, he already has two Tour de France wins (2020, 2021) and one Giro d’Italia victory (2024). After dominating the Giro d’Italia in May, the phenom aims to become the first cyclist since 1998 (Marco Pantani) to win both the Giro and the Tour de France in the same year. Already considered one of the greatest talents cycling has ever seen, the Slovenian has won four out of five events he’s raced in this year, finishing third in his only non-victory. He’s finished second place in the last two editions of the Tour de France.

Pogačar will look to defeat two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, another popular pick to win this year. The 27-year-old has bested Pogačar the last two years, but the Tour de France will mark his return to racing since a severe crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April, where he broke his collarbone and ribs, suffering a collapsed lung in the process.

Another intriguing challenger is Tour veteran Primož Roglič of Team Bora-hansgrohe, who seeks his first Tour de France victory in what will be his sixth appearance. At 34 years old and well into his illustrious career, it remains the major title he has yet to win, having already secured victories across the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Monuments, and Olympic Games.

How many teams are in the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is made up of 22 pro cycling teams with eight riders each, amounting to 176 total competitors.

How do teams work in the Tour de France?

Each team has one rider who is their main contender, commonly referred to as the team’s leader. Teams may have several leaders throughout the race, determined by each group’s individual race strategy. Other members of the team are known as domestiques . These key figures support their team’s leader in the race by shielding them from wind and other cyclists, bringing them water, and even offering to switch bikes in the event of mechanical failure. Team members typically take turns acting in these support roles.

RELATED: 2024 Tour de France cyclists to watch: Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar lead the pack

Who are recent Tour de France winners?

2023: Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) 2022: Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) 2021: Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) 2020: Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) 2019: Egan Bernal (Colombia) 2018: Geraint Thomas (United Kingdom, Wales) 2017: Chris Froome (United Kingdom) 2016: Chris Froome (United Kingdom) 2015: Chris Froome (United Kingdom) 2014: Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) 2013: Chris Froome (United Kingdom) 2012: Bradley Wiggins (United Kingdom) 2011: Cadel Evans (Australia) 2010: Andy Schleck (Luxembourg) Alberto Contador was initial winner, but was stripped of victory in 2012 after he was found guilty of doping

How many points do you get for winning a stage in the Tour de France?

Points are awarded throughout and at the end of each stage, differing based on the type of stage. Here’s the point distribution for first-place finishers across stages (Individual time trial and intermediate sprint winners are also awarded 20 points each):

Flat stage finishes: 50 points Hilly and medium mountain stage finishes: 30 points High mountain finishes: 20 points

How do they determine the winner of the Tour de France?

The rider with the shortest overall combined time from every stage is declared the winner. This year’s race will feature an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice as the final stage. Though there is only one overall winner, there are three other individual awards granted to cyclists for various accomplishments. Throughout the race, the leaders in each category wear specific jerseys to differentiate them from the rest.

The coveted yellow jersey is for the rider with the fastest overall time at the end of each stage; the race leader. A green jersey, also known as the points jersey, is awarded to the fastest sprinter. Riders collect points for finishing stages quickly, winning sprint sections, and performing well in mountain sections. A white jersey with red polka dots, also known as the “King of the Mountains,” is awarded to the best climber. Mountain points are distributed based on the difficulty of individual climbing sections throughout various mountain stages. Lastly, a white jersey is awarded to the best young rider, the highest-ranked cyclist under the age of 26. Winning just one Tour de France stage is considered a huge victory for most cyclists.

How much money do you get for winning the Tour de France?

The overall winner of the Tour de France will receive €500,000, equivalent to $533,915. Second place earns €200,000 ($213,566), with third place getting $100,000 ($107,062). Each stage win is worth €11,000, equivalent to $11,746. The rider with the most sprint points at the race’s conclusion walks away with €25,000 ($26,765) as the green jersey winner.

Is there a team prize in the Tour de France?

Yes, there is a team prize in the Tour de France. The top five teams at the end of the race receive cash prizes, which are then calculated by adding the cumulative times of each team’s three fastest finishers from the stage. The winning team receives €2,800 in prize money ($3,001). Team earnings are often split among the team instead of just one rider.

How is the Tour de France time cut calculated?

The Tour de France’s time cut is a Grand Tours ruling that ensures riders don’t reduce their workloads in certain stages to conserve energy for later stages. Time cuts in stages are determined by two factors, primarily the stage’s difficulty and the winning rider’s average speed. Every stage in the Tour de France is given a difficulty coefficient, numbered one to six. For example, a stage where minimal climbing is involved may be granted a one or a two, but a stage with high climbs through mountains may be granted a higher difficulty coefficient, like five or six. If the stage maintains a fast pace, time cuts will be more forgiving. If races produce a slower pace, the time cut will be harsher.

What is the name of the British team in the Tour de France?

The INEOS Grenadiers are Great Britain’s professional cycling team that competes at the UCI World team level. The team is based out of Manchester, England with a base in Deinze, Belgium. Previously known as Team Sky, the name changed to Team INEOS and then the INEOS Grenadiers in 2019, when INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe became sole owners. This year’s 11 British riders throughout the field are the most ever in Tour de France history.

What are the stages of the Tour de France 2024?

Saturday, June 29: Stage 1 , Florence - Rimini (206 km) Sunday, June 30: Stage 2 , Cesenatico - Bologne (199.2 km) Monday, July 1: Stage 3 , Plaisance - Turin (230.8 km) Tuesday, July 2: Stage 4 , Pinerolo - Valloire (139.6 km) Wednesday, July 3: Stage 5 , Sant-Jean-de-Maurienne - Saint-Vulbas (177.4 km) Thursday, July 4: Stage 6 , Mâcon - Dijon (163.5 km) Friday, July 5: Stage 7 , Nuits-Saint-Georges - Gevrey-Chambertin (25.3 km, individual time trial) Saturday, July 6: Stage 8 , Semur-En-Auxois > Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (183.4 km) Sunday, July 7: Stage 9 , Troyes - Troyes (199 km) Monday, July 8: Rest Day Tuesday, July 9: Stage 10 , Orléans - Saint-Amand-Montrond (187.3 km) Wednesday, July 10: Stage 11 , Évaus-les-Bains - Le Lioran (211 km) Thursday, July 11: Stage 12 , Aurillac - Villeneuve-sur-Lot (203.6 km) Friday, July 12: Stage 13 , Agen - Pau (165.3 km) Saturday, July 13: Stage 14 , Pau - Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet (151.9 km) Sunday, July 14: Stage 15 , Loudenvielle - Plateau de Beille (198 km) Monday, July 15: Rest Day Tuesday, July 16: Stage 16 , Gruissan - Nîmes (188.6 km) Wednesday, July 17: Stage 17 , Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Superdévoluy (177.8 km) Thursday, July 18: Stage 18 , Gap - Barcelonnette (179.5 km) Friday, July 19: Stage 19 , Embrun - Isola 2000 (144.6 km) Saturday, July 20: Stage 20 , Nice - Col de la Couillole (132.8 km) Sunday, July 21: Stage 21 , Monaco - Nice (33.7 km, individual time trial)

Who is the only American to win the Tour de France?

The legendary Greg LeMond is the only American man to win the Tour de France, capturing victories in 1986, 1989, and 1990. In the process, he became the first non-European professional cyclist to win the historic race.

What happens if you have to go to the bathroom during the Tour de France?

Cyclists can stop on the side of the road if they must use the bathroom during the Tour de France. However, they must be out of view of spectators to avoid getting fined. Riders often will take collective breaks as a group to individually go to the bathroom.

Do riders sleep during the Tour de France?

Yes! Tour de France competitors do indeed get rest. The race is three weeks long and athletes are exercising intensely, so sleep is necessary. Cyclists typically sleep in hotel rooms that vary in accommodations and location.

What are the Tour de France rules?

There are many rules within the Tour de France, among them include:

• All riders must wear their team’s official outfit: shorts, jersey, socks, shoes, gloves, and a helmet to begin the race (aside from special jerseys).
• Other classifications can be identified by a rider’s uniform or race number, including colored or special numbers for the highest-ranked individual rider on each team, the most aggressive rider as determined by a jury, and stage winners.
• If a cyclist wins a stage or is one of the first three finishers, seconds are subtracted from their overall time as a bonus. First place subtracts ten seconds, then six and four for second and third. At various critical points like passes and summits, the first three riders can also receive time premiums of eight, five, and two seconds.
• There is a time cut calculated depending on the type of stage using the time of the winner. In most cases, riders will be eliminated from the race if they do not finish under the time cut. There are cases where a rider will finish after the time cut and still be allowed to start the next day, but they lose all of the points they had accumulated to that point.
• Various cyclists are drug tested at every stage, with over 180 drug tests distributed throughout the race.

Other specific rules for the Tour de France include:

• No littering
• Cyclists cannot push off cars, motorcycles or other riders
• Team cars called caravans may follow riders, but must maintain a distance of at least 25 meters.
• Spraying liquid, like water used for cooling purposes, from team cars is prohibited.
• Teams cannot help eachother.
• Riders may only eat in designated areas.
• No indecent behavior towards spectators.

Notificaties

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Favorites youth classification Tour de France 2024 | Finally free of Pogacar, these are the men who will battle for the white jersey!

On September 21, 1998, a small boy named Tadej was born in Slovenia. A prodigy who, nineteen years later, would astonish cycling fans with his incredible abilities on a bike. During his first years, he dominated the young rider classification in all the races he entered, as he was always among the best in the general classification. Until 2024. Tadej Pogacar turns 26 in September and he is finally too old for the white jersey. This means that – just like in the Giro d'Italia – we will finally get a real battle for the young rider classification for the first time in years!

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Since Pogacar's debut in 2019, the fight for the white jersey was only interesting in grand tours where the Slovenian was not participating. In the 2019 Vuelta a España and the Tour de France editions from 2020 to 2023, the white jersey automatically went to him, simply because he ended up on the podium in all the grand tours he entered. In the Giro d'Italia this past May, Pogacar was already too old, and we saw a young rider classification with riders who genuinely competed for it. Antonio Tiberi emerged as the best. Who will it be in the Tour?

The concept of the young rider classification is quite simple: any rider born in 1999 or later is eligible, and the one who finishes highest in the general classification will stand on the podium in Nice wearing the white jersey. This rider will, after four consecutive decisions with Pogacar at the top, dethrone the Slovenian to join the ranks of riders like Egan Bernal, Simon and Adam Yates and Nairo Quintana!

Also read these articles from IDLProCycling.com

Preview of the Tour de France Favorites general classification (yellow jersey) Favorites points classification (green jersey) Favorites mountain classification (polka-dot jersey)

Most recent winners Tour de France white jersey

2023 Tadej Pogacar 2022 Tadej Pogacar 2021 Tadej Pogacar 2020 Tadej Pogacar 2019 Egan Bernal 2018 Pierre Latour 2017 Simon Yates 2016 Adam Yates 2015 Nairo Quintana 2014 Thibaut Pinot

Favorites youth classification Tour de France 2024

To create this list, current and former editors of IDLProCycling.com were asked for their top ten answers to the question: "Who is most likely to win the young rider jersey in the Tour de France?" Points were assigned to each top ten as follows: 12 points for the first place, 10 for second, and so on down to 1 point. The total points for each rider were converted into a percentage of the maximum possible points and are indicated next to each rider. This gives a clearer picture of the perceived chances for each rider, according to IDLProCycling.com .

Romain Grégoire- Groupama-FDJ: 5/72 (6.9%)

Listing ten established general classification contenders for the white jersey is unprecedented. In such a classification, it's always a bit of a gamble on young talents who might exceed expectations. Consider Romain Grégoire , who, in just his second year as a pro with Groupama-FDJ , is already making it to the Tour de France. The 21-year-old Frenchman is very explosive, a fantastic climber, but has so far excelled more in one-day races and breakaways than in overall standings.

Normally, he will fulfill that role in the Tour, having already secured a notable stage victory in the Tour of the Basque Country. Grégoire may stand close in the young rider classification in the first week, but can he maintain it over three weeks? His friend, teammate, and peer Lenny Martinez seems more suited for that. But more on him later...

Tobias Halland Johannessen - Uno-X Mobility: 14/72 (19.4%)

Tobias Halland Johannessen can perhaps be placed in the same category as Grégoire, although there might be even more potential in the 24-year-old Norwegian ridinig for Uno-X. After winning the highly regarded U23 Tour de l'Avenir in 2021, he joined the senior ranks. He immediately proved to be an excellent general classification rider in second-tier stage races and, after overcoming injury issues, made his Tour debut in 2023, where he was very active as an attacker.

This year, he may be present in a similar role, but in peak form, Johannessen could easily achieve a solid top ten. He hasn't done it at such a high level yet, but there's a first time for everything... If he's lucky enough to have his peers not deliver, the white jersey could be within reach.

Oier Lazkano - Movistar Team: 15/72 (20.8%)

Another typical attacker and actually a classics specialist. What is he doing on this list? Well, Oier Lazkano is still discovering himself, and after achieving excellent results in one-day races, he suddenly found himself among established general classification riders in the top ten this year. The outgoing Spanish champion won the Clásica Jaén and finished third in Kuurne, but surprised everyone with a ninth place in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

In the final mountain stages, Lazkano finished among the best, though still at a respectable distance from the stage winners. However, this speaks volumes about the engine within the 1.89-meter tall rider. Movistar is focusing on Enric Mas in the Tour, but don't be surprised if Lazkano stays close to the top ten with some impressive attacks...

Lenny Martinez - Groupama-FDJ: 17/72 (23.6%)

Here we have Lenny, the wonderkid of Groupama-FDJ mentioned alongside Grégoire. Likely moving to Bahrain Victorious in 2025, but not before making a surprising Tour debut for the team that developed him. Martinez is, like Grégoire, on his second WorldTour season, and while his peer made a mark in punchy finishes, Martinez has been climbing with the best in stage races and one-day hill races for two seasons.

20-year-old Martinez already has an impressive resume. After winning CIC - Mont Ventoux last season, he has already secured five victories this season, all in tough climbing races. His results in stage races might be even more impressive. He finished second behind Jonas Vingegaard in O Gran Camiño, seventh in Catalonia, and eighth in Romandy. Although he underperformed in the Tour of Switerland after a high-altitude training camp, he showed signs of improvement in the final mountain time trial (sixth), and is likely to shine in the Tour. Bring it on, Martinez!

Tom Pidcock - INEOS Grenadiers: 34/72 (47.2%)

The percentages are now rising sharply, which is no surprise. We are now entering that group of riders who have a realistic chance of winning the white jersey, starting with Tom Pidcock . The 24-year-young all-rounder is competing in this classification for the last time, and don't be surprised if he takes home the jersey to match in Nice. Pidcock is a unique athlete who continues to combine cyclo-cross, mountain biking and road racing, but also delivers in all disciplines.

In the winter, he expressed his ambition to aim for the top five in the Tour de France. Makes sense, after flirting with the top ten in 2022 and 2023. That one bad day needs to be avoided, and his climbing needs improvement, but Pidcock is a serious threat to other general classification riders. Winning a mountain bike race a week before the Tour should help him in the opening weekend. His training at altitude and in the Tour of Switzerland should provide the stamina to compete in the third week.

Santiago Buitrago - Bahrain Victorious: 36/72 (50.0%)

Bahrain Victorious is making remarkable choices this season, and we cannot say they are bad ones. They overlooked a veteran like Wout Poels for the Giro d'Italia, placing all hope on rookie Antonio Tiberi, who immediately delivered with a fifth place and the young rider jersey. The team has a similar plan for the Tour, with Santiago Buitrago as the 24-year-old newcomer among the big names.

The Colombian has earned his stripes in the peloton, more so than Tiberi, so Bahrain Victorious' confidence in the climber is not unfounded. His performances in stage races have not been spectacular this year, although he was in good form early in 2024, bringing in a second place in the Tour of Valencia. Lots of high-altitude training should see him start the Tour in peak form, where he will not be targeting stage wins as in the Giro d'Italia of 2022 and 2023, but will focus on the overall classification. The white jersey was already mentioned as a goal during the team presentation.

Matteo Jorgenson - Visma | Lease a Bike: 37/72 (51.4%)

When you start smashing results after a transfer to Visma | Lease a Bike , winning Paris-Nice and finishing second in the Dauphiné, you're more than just a domestique for Vingegaard in the Tour. In his new team, Matteo Jorgenson found the guidance that his potential deserved, unlike at Movistar. High-altitude training, major stage races, and now he is a shadow leader for the Tour.

In theory, all eyes are on Vingegaard, but how good is the Dane? That is a question nobody can answer as of yet. The only thing we know for sure is that Jorgenson has kept up with the best in both one-day races and stage races this season, and his team says he has improved even more during his latest high-altitude training. Even if Vingegaard performs well, Jorgenson could still aim for a strong overall classification. The white jersey, which he already won in Paris-Nice and the Dauphiné, could be within grasp.

Juan Ayuso - UAE-Team Emirates: 53/72 (73.6%)

Matteo Jorgenson, but the UAE-Team Emirates version. Not an explicit leader in the Tour, because that role of course goes to Pogacar. But expectations for Juan Ayuso are high for his debut. He is on his third WorldTour season, and has impressed in every race he has entered. Third in his debut Vuelta a España in 2022, fourth behind the invincible Jumbo-Visma podium in the Vuelta of 2023, overall winner in the Tour of the Basque Country this year, and ‘best of the rest’ behind Vingegaard in the Tirreno.

Ayuso is supporting Pogacar, but to what extent will UAE riders have to sacrifice their own ambitions for the Slovenian’s yellow jersey ambitions? With Adam Yates, João Almeida, Pavel Sivakov and Marc Soler also onboard, there is no shortage of climbing power. And Visma | Lease a Bike proved in the Vuelta of 2023 that you can place three riders on the podium if you are simply better than the rest. Ayuso won’t want to lose time, so he might surprise by delivering the white jersey and a strong overall result in his first Tour de France.

Carlos Rodriguez - INEOS Grenadiers: 60/72 (83.3%)

Spain is well-stocked with stage race talent these years. Besides Ayuso, Carlos Rodriguez has been impressing in the WorldTour for the last 3.5 years. The 23-year-old rider of INEOS Grenadiers finished fifth in his first Tour last year. And to think he was on track for a podium spot until he had a hard crash in the final week. The same happened in the 2022 Vuelta a España, where he finished seventh, but without the crash, he might have matched Ayuso's performance.

INEOS is aiming for a strong overall result with Rodriguez, despite Pidcock and Egan Bernal having the same ambition. That shouldn’t be a problem, because when Pogacar and Vingegaard go, the legs will determine who can follow. His preparation seems perfect once again. Rodriguez finished second in the Basque Country and closed the Dauphiné with a stage win and fourth place overall. "Better than ever," he said himself. Which makes him an immediate top favorite for white.

Remco Evenepoel - Soudal-Quick Step: 66/72 (91.7%)

One major disadvantage for Rodriguez: there is a competitor at Soudal-Quick Step who potentially could be even better. Remco Evenepoel is finally riding the Tour de France, something Belgium has been eagerly waiting for for years. Evenepoel took it easy since his debut in 2019. Despite his well-known top results in monuments, world championships and week-long stage races, he only participated in his first grand tour in 2021 (partly due to a severe fall in Lombardy in 2022). At the time, the Giro d’Italia was a challenge without having that race rhythm in the legs.

In 2022, everything was focused on the Vuelta a España, which turned out to be a great success. Evenepoel won the overall classification and also took the rainbow jersey in Australia. The Tour in 2023 then? No, he first had to make amends in the Giro. He fought hard for the pink jersey, but COVID-19 interfered. In the Vuelta a España, one off day led to a different race tactic. Evenepoel won a total of three stages and the mountain jersey. So he was ready for the Tour. After his crash in the Basque Country (and the broken shoulder blade that resulted from the crash), the Dauphiné was not great, but Evenepoel seems ready for the battle for the podium.

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The unwritten rules of the Tour de France - what are they and how are they enforced?

First Published Jul 11, 2022

20 years ago this July, on the final climb of the final mountain stage of the 2003 Tour de France, Jan Ullrich finally looked capable of defeating his old adversary, Lance Armstrong. For arguably the only time during his seven-year-reign, the disgraced Texan appeared out-of-sorts at the Tour. Throughout the Pyrenees, with a rejuvenated Ullrich – the winner of the 1997 Tour and by this point already twice a runner-up to the American – breathing down his neck, Armstrong and his manager Johan Bruyneel’s tactics were simple: “hang on”.

And then, on that final showdown on Luz Ardiden, the yellow jersey hit the deck. Hugging a slight right-hand bend, Armstrong’s handlebars tangled with a child’s bag, sending him to the ground with a thud.

As Armstrong struggled with his pedals (and almost headbutted his handlebars) during a frantic effort to regain contact, Ullrich called a halt to hostilities in the lead group.

In his 2022 biography of Ullrich, Daniel Friebe writes that the German hero felt bound by “an unwritten cycling diktat – that, when a rival crashes or punctures, you wait, particularly if he’s in the yellow jersey.”

For Ullrich, so close to a redemptive second Tour win, the choice was simple because, as he put it after the stage, “fairness is everything in sport”. And besides, Armstrong had done the same for him after a similar incident two years before.

Following Ullrich’s adherence to cycling’s unwritten code (a gesture somewhat indicative of the honour amongst thieves which existed in the peloton during that murky era), the US Postal rider – adrenaline coursing through his veins – attacked and won the stage, and with it the Tour. Ullrich was devastated.

Seven years later, Andy Schleck was in yellow on the Port de Balès during the penultimate Pyrenean stage of the race. Schleck – the Ullrich to Alberto Contador’s Armstrong – stood on the pedals to attack. As he changed gear, he dropped his chain. Contador, who had accelerated to match Schleck’s burst, simply kept going, as his closest rival forlornly fumbled with his bike at the side of the road. Social media outrage and questionably sincere video apology aside, chaingate – as it quickly became known – effectively won Contador the Tour.

These two incidents, so similar in nature but with strikingly different outcomes, highlight that while there's a whole book of regulations that govern the Tour de France, an age-old set of unwritten rules also determine how the race develops.

We’ll forgive you for being confused by these. As we saw in the Pyrenees in 2003 and 2010, they are incredibly open to interpretation and often create more problems than they solve, but we thought that we’d take a look at some that you might find mentioned during this year’s Tour de France.

First, and most confusing of all…

You can’t attack the maillot jaune when the following happens…

They crash:  If the leader of the race goes down in a crash then don’t you be thinking about attacking until they are safely back in the bunch. But that’s only if the racing hasn’t really kicked off yet, of course.

If the peloton is lined out with riders fighting to stay in contact, then it’s fair game (sometimes). Even during the heat of battle, a truce can be achieved if those at the front believe that a rival has been hampered by circumstances beyond their control. 

How does this get decided? As we saw in 2003 with Ullrich, who stood the most to gain from Armstrong’s misfortune, the riders at the front usually decide, following a lot of conversation and hand waving.

They suffer a mechanical problem:  Like a crash, this one is subject to the race situation at the time of the incident. If the racing is on, with the pace high and attacks already flying off the front, then the yellow jersey just has to get on with it and get back to the front of the race.

In fact, mechanicals are considered by many to be simple bad luck. Contador attacking Schleck in what became known as ‘chaingate’ is the perfect example of this. One side of the argument (and believe me, this went on for weeks back in 2010) says that Contador showed the ruthless instinct of a winner while others reckoned that it was bad form to take advantage of Schleck's chain coming off. You just shouldn’t have dropped that chain, Andy!

But (just to confuse matters further) when Chris Froome shipped his chain in 2017, Fabio Aru – who had hit the front just as the Team Sky rider glanced down at his misfiring bike – was chastised by his rivals, who ordered the Italian champion to call off his attack until Froome had regained his place in the group.

The bottom line? Normally, the riders adhere to the unwritten rule that a Tour de France should not simply be won by luck or through another rider’s misfortune…

Unless, of course, your rivals want to gang up on you to force you out of yellow; a fate suffered by French hope Jean-François Bernard at the 1987 Tour, who shipped a chain and then punctured just as Stephen Roche, Pedro Delgado and a few others took flight on the way to Villard-de-Lans. He never saw them, or yellow, again.

I told you it was complicated…

They stop for a nature break:  This one, thankfully, is a bit more straightforward (mostly). If the start of a stage has been fast and a small group has gained a small advantage over the peloton, the yellow jersey stopping for a piddle is the sign that the peloton will now relax and let the breakaway take a few minutes' lead.

A collective sigh of relief will be released around the peloton when the yellow jersey's hand goes up. Riders of a team that has failed to make the breakaway may now quietly remove their radio earpieces as the team manager won’t be best pleased.

Of course, while this particular unwritten rule tends to be followed religiously, sometimes a poorly timed nature break (and some opportunistic tactical manoeuvring on the part of rivals) can prove fatal to a race leader.

Just ask Demi Vollering, who stopped for a pee alongside her SD Worx teammates on stage six of this year’s Vuelta Femenina, only for Annemiek van Vleuten’s Movistar team – instigating a pre-planned tactic, they later claimed – to begin drilling it on the front.

That conveniently timed attack proved enough, just, for Van Vleuten to take the overall win, despite her younger compatriot looking stronger throughout the week, and prompted Vollering to accuse the world champion of breaking one of cycling’s most sacred unwritten rules. The SD Worx leader may have been furious, but Van Vleuten was the winner. And, at the end of the race, that’s all that matters.

Drafting is ok(ish)

Coming back from a crash, mechanical or nature break will require a racer to ride at a speed faster than the peloton. That’s difficult, so the rider will take a draft in the convoy of team cars to make things easier. This is actually not allowed, but the race jury generally turns a blind eye as otherwise they’d have half of the peloton disqualified for being outside of the time limit every day.

But sometimes the race jury notices, and then drafting a car is suddenly not ok. This is usually when the racing is at a critical stage, or if a rider is taking an unfair amount of time behind their team car. Sounds woolly at best? It is.

Poor old Nils Eekhoff was disqualified from the U23 World Championships after he had crossed the line first. The jury decided that his drafting of a car with 125km left to race – after he had crashed and waited to be examined by the race doctor – constituted a breach of the rules.

The whole situation made many question the jury’s decision, though others were simply frustrated by the lack of consistency around the enforcement of this rule.

Speaking of a lack of consistency…

During the second stage of last year’s Tour, when the race was still in Denmark, a ‘barrage’ was called by the commissaires (ordering team cars out of the gap between the peloton and a chasing group, so the chasers can’t take advantage of the cars’ draft) as Rigoberto Uran attempted to regain contact following a crash on a bridge, but not when race leader Yves Lampaert went down. Murky indeed.

You scratch my back…

If you’ve ever looked at a bike race and wondered why certain riders are working in the breakaway and others aren't, the answer is often that they're trying to achieve different things. 

One rider might be chasing the mountain points on offer at the top of climbs, while another needs the points from the intermediate sprint. These riders won’t contest the other rider’s competition, though all are expected to shoulder an equal workload in the effort to keep the breakaway ahead of the peloton.

Once a rider has collected all of their points available for that day, they may well give their breakaway companions some extra help on the front of the bunch, especially if those riders have allowed them to take points uncontested.

This unwritten rule is highly nuanced and full of sub-plots and mini rivalries.

The peloton will decide when to race

The peloton has in the past decided to neutralise the race if they feel that it is too dangerous. This can be because of poor road conditions, extreme weather or because of too many crashes. We've also seen protests to highlight danger in races, such as the mini stoppage that happened at the beginning of stage four  in 2021 following a number of terrible crashes in the preceding days. 

Stage one of the 2020 Tour saw a downpour on roads that hadn’t seen rain in several weeks. The result was a number of crashes, and the decision was taken to neutralise a descent to the finish before the race started again on the flat run to the line.

In situations like this, the peloton will turn to its 'patrons'. In years gone by, this would have been one dominant rider – Merckx, Hinault, Cancellara – but today there isn’t one voice that controls proceedings. Instead, senior riders and road captains like Luke Rowe would collectively agree to take that decision, and the peloton follows their lead.

When Astana’s Omar Fraile decided to ignore this and push the pace on the descent, he received quite a bit of abuse as he was absorbed by the peloton.

The final stage is a procession... until it isn't

There is absolutely no written rule that states that the final stage of the Tour de France should have no outcome on the overall race, but this is the way it has been for years. The final day is reserved for sipping champagne, taking team pictures, and generally rolling along at a speed that makes half the peloton nervous about missing their flight home.

Generally, the race starts just outside of Paris and rolls at this leisurely speed until the riders hit the Champs Elysees (or when the Eiffel Tower comes into view, as tradition dictates). The team of the yellow jersey usually leads the race across the finish line on the first lap, though a rider that is retiring may be allowed to roll off the front for the honour.

After that, the eight laps up and down the famous boulevard are suddenly a proper race again with attacks that are almost certain to fail, heading up the road before the sprint is won and the race is finished.

However, with the 2024 Tour de France set to finish   in Nice to avoid a clash with the Paris Olympics , we may finally be treated to some ‘proper racing’ - with maybe even the yellow jersey up for grabs - on the final day for the first time since 1989… We can hope anyway!

A benevolent yellow jersey

It may seem hard to believe now, in an era when Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard appear intent on gobbling up everything before them at the Tour, but there was a time when the dominant rider at the Tour de France was expected to share the love around the peloton, and dole out favours and stage wins like a yellow-clad Father Christmas.

That tradition arguably began in the early 1990s, when Big Miguel Induráin eschewed the cannibal-like instincts of Merckx and the iron-fisted bravado of Hinault for a more genteel form of domination, bartering stage wins and fleeting glimpses of glory to his fellow riders for an easier passage through five straight Tour victories. He was going to win anyway, so why be greedy?

Even Lance “No Gifts” Armstrong carried on that tradition for the most part, letting the likes of Ivan Basso, Alejandro Valverde, and Marco Pantani cross the line ahead of him (though he quickly came to regret letting Il Pirata beat him to the top of the Ventoux in 2000).

Vingegaard, meanwhile, notably eased up during last year's final time trial to gift the win to teammate Wout van Aert, though doesn't seem as yet minded to dole out favours to rivals. Pogačar, for his part, appears to have no need or desire to curry favour with the peloton either. Perhaps they’ll both mellow in their old age?

Café wisdom: road.cc readers on unwritten rules of the Tour de France

In a previous edition of this feature, kil0ran added to our list of unwritten rules with these unconventional traditions:

"If you pick up a jersey due to a penalty you must make clear that it's not how you'd like to have won it.

"See also the rare occurrence of the maillot jaune (or any maillot) being unable to start the next day due to injury. Or disqualification."

kil0ran's point about a race leader abandoning while in the leader's jersey was even raised at this year's Giro d'Italia.

Cycling tradition dictates that if a rider finishes a stage in the overall lead but fails to start the next day, no-one should wear the yellow jersey on that stage – as it has yet to be earned by anyone other than the unfortunate DNSer (once that stage finishes, it’s good to go of course).

At the Giro, however, Geraint Thomas rocked up after the rest day in the pink jersey, despite race leader Remco Evenepoel only pulling out with Covid following the stage nine time trial.

I suppose jersey sponsors have paid their money for a reason…

 Clear as mud, isn't it? If you have any more unwritten rules to add, let us know in the comments!

Main image: ASO, Pauline Ballet

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Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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Thank Heavens for Article 20

Tour de France rule protects riders from themselves—almost

We’ve seen it happen countless times before when a crash inside the final few kilometers of a stage brings a pile of riders to the ground and holds up dozens more. But what happens when a GC contender loses time as a result? Well, if the crash occurs inside the final three kilometers of the stage, he doesn’t, thanks to Article 20 of the Tour de France rulebook.

Article 20 states: “In the event that a rider or riders suffer a fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last 3 kilometers and such an incident is duly recognized, the rider or riders involved are credited with the same finishing time of the rider or riders they were with at the time of the incident.”

In other words, Article 20 is a savior.

Take Garmin-Sharp’s Andrew Talansky for example. The American GC contender initially appeared on the results from Stage 1 as having finished 4:15 behind stage winner Marcel Kittel after getting tied up in the crash at the end of the stage. Had this gap stood, Talansky’s hopes of a podium finish in Paris would have been over only a day into the race. But within an hour of the stage finish, Talansky’s time was adjusted, and while the result still shows him finishing 194th (between several riders who were dropped long before the finish line), the gap between him and Kittel on GC is 0’00”. All thanks to Article 20.

Article 20 is designed to protect riders who become unfortunate victims of crashes and mechanicals in the final three kilometers (the rule used to pertain only to the final kilometer, but was changed to 3km prior to the 2005 Tour). On the surface it’s just the fair thing to do, but there’s an added benefit: It theoretically gives riders who have no business mixing it up in a field sprint one less reason to take dangerous risks in order to protect their GC placings. So it encourages men like Team Sky’s Chris Froome, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador, and Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali to get out of the way and let the sprinters do their thing.

Then why did Chris Froome “sprint” to a sixth-place finish in Stage 1? Well, while Article 20 protects riders from losing time as a result of crashes, it doesn’t protect them from crashing in the first place. Despite what we saw today from Omega Pharma—Quick-Step’s Mark Cavendish and Orica-GreenEdge’s Simon Gerrans, Froome knows that the safest place to be is at the front, so he made sure to position himself at the head of the race. He’s just lucky he chose someplace to be other than behind Cav and Gerrans.

So does Article 20 stop GC riders like Froome and Talansky from taking risks at the end of sprint stages? Apparently not. But does it protect them from the consequences when they do? Absolutely.

And sorry, sprinters, the rule does not apply during time trials or summit finishes, so letting the air out of your tires three kilometers from the top of Alpe d’Huez won’t help you make the time cut. After all, rules are rules.

Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France for the 3rd time

Pogacar, 25, is the first cyclist to win the giro d’italia and tour de france in the same year since 1998., published july 21, 2024 • updated on july 21, 2024 at 4:03 pm.

Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France for the third time and celebrated in style with a victory in Sunday's final stage — a time trial ending in Nice.

The 25-year-old Slovenian rider became the first cyclist to secure the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year since the late Marco Pantani in 1998.

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Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark was second overall. He also finished the 21st and final stage in second place.

Pogacar won the 34-kilometer (21-mile) time trial on the French Riviera's roads from Monaco to Nice in 45 minutes, 24 seconds. Vingegaard was 1 minute, 3 seconds behind him and Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel 1:14 back in third spot.

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In the overall standings, Vingegaard finished 6:17 behind Pogacar and Evenepoel was third overall, 9:18 behind Pogacar — whose other Tour wins came in 2020 and 2021.

The race did not finish in Paris as it usually does because of the Olympic Games. Nice mayor Christian Estrosi called the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the southern French Alps “perfect cycling territory.”

From early Sunday morning, fans camped along the popular Promenade des Anglais in Nice to guard a spot that would offer the best glimpse of cyclists.

Some fans chanted “Remco, Remco” as the race-against-the-clock specialist zoomed past them.

They may have been surprised to see Pogacar going flat out.

After his explosive attack on Friday, Pogacar said he would not try to win Saturday’s stage. But the UAE Team Emirates rider could not resist and won that to become the second man to win five mountain stages in one Tour after Italian rider Gino Bartali in 1948.

Pogacar had no need to attack on Sunday, either, considering he led Vingegaard overnight by more than five minutes.

But the lure of another stage win proved too strong and he flew down the winding roads past picturesque Èze and Villefranche-sur-Mer on the approach to Nice, where the route flattened out again.

Pogacar held out three fingers as the finish line and a sixth stage win approached on this year’s Tour — the same number of stages he won when dominating the Giro d’Italia.

It was Pogacar’s biggest winning margin of his three Tour wins — beating the 5:20 gap on Vingegaard three years ago, but below the 7:29 victory margin Vingegaard enjoyed over Pogacar last year.

The battle with Vingegaard was not as close as it might have been in different circumstances.

The 27-year-old Vingegaard was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in April following a high-speed crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. He resumed competitive racing only on this Tour.

Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz won the best climber's polka dot jersey while Eritrea's Biniam Girmay won the top sprinter's green jersey and the 24-year-old Evenepoel capped a fine debut Tour with the white jersey for best young rider.

Associated Press writer Barbara Surk in Nice contributed to this report.

This article tagged under:

All the penalties and fines from the 2024 Tour de France

A stage-by-stage list of rule breakers, fines and points deductions at the Tour

Stage 1: Florence - Rimini

Stage 2: cesenatico - bologna, stage 3: piacenza - turin, stage 4: pinerolo - valloire, stage 5: saint-jean-de-maurienne - saint-vulbas, stage 6: macon - dijon, stage 7: nuits-saint-georges - gevrey-chambertin.

• Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois\203aColombey-les-Deux-Eglises

Stage 9: Troyes - Troyes

The UCI regulates the Tour de France , imposing penalties for riders who violate the rules for road racing, with fines and the loss of UCI points for anything from riding without a helmet to getting into a fistfight.

In 2025, the UCI will impose a 'yellow card' system for repeat offenders to discourage riders from purposely breaking rules and just taking the punishment. An asterisk next to the fine below indicates this would result in a yellow card in the future.

Two or more infractions will lead to riders being ejected from the race and suspended for a week, three gets a two-week ban from racing and if riders get six in a year, they can be suspended for 30 days.

The fines and yellow cards can also apply to anyone on the race, including media motorcycle drivers and team staff, too.

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was fined and docked 13 points toward the green jersey classification on stage 6 for deviating from his line in the sprint into Dijon, while Astana received four separate fines for helping Mark Cavendish get back after a mechanical late in the stage.

Prior to the start of stage 11, the UCI carried out inspections against technological frauds. A total of 40 bikes were inspected, nine using X-ray, and all were found to comply with UCI regulations. At the end of the stage, the 'sprint rule' was implemented for Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), as he crashed within 3km of the finish so was credited with the same time as his riding companion at the time, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), who finished third.

Here is a full list of the fines and punishments for each stage of the 2024 Tour de France. 

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• Christoph Roodhooft (Alpecin-Deceuninck DS) - Breach of regulations regarding vehicle movement during the race (km 14) – 500CHF*
• Gianni Meersman (Alpecin-Deceuninck DS) – Failure to respect instructions of commissaires – 200CHF*
• Raul Garcia (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – Inappropriate behaviour – 200CHF
• Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) – Deviating from the chosen lane by impeding or endangering another rider and irregular sprint – 500CHF* , Relegation to last place in the group, -13 points in points classification
• Jarrad Drizners (Lotto Dstny) – Unseemly or inappropriate behaviour during the race and damage to the image of the sport – 200CHF fine
• Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan) – Unseemly or inappropriate behaviour during the race and damage to the image of the sport – 200CHF fine
• Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) – Sheltering behind or taking advantage of the slipstream of a vehicle – 200CHF*, 40 second penalty, 15 UCI points, -10 points in points classification
• Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan) – Sheltering behind or taking advantage of the slipstream of a vehicle – 200CHF*, 20 second penalty, 15 UCI points, -10 points in points classification
• Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana Qazaqstan DS) – Sheltering behind or taking advantage of the slipstream of a vehicle, Rider or team member throwing wastes or any other object outside the waste zones – 500CHF* fine, 500CHF fine
• Mario Aerts (Astana Qazaqstan DS) – Rider or team member throwing wastes or any other object outside the waste zones – 500CHF* fine
• Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – Deviating from the chosen lane by impeding or endangering another rider and irregular sprint – Relegation to last place in the group, 500CHF* fine , -13 points in points classification
• Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – Assault, intimidation, insults, threats, incorrect behaviour, or behaviour that is indecent or endangers others (on stage 6) – 500CHF* fine, - 20 UCI ranking points
• Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) – Unseemly or inappropriate behaviour during the race and damage to the image of the sport – 200CHF fine
• Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) – Not respecting the distances and gaps planned by a rider during a time trial – 200CHF fine, 40-second penalty

Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois›Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises

Stage 10: orléans - saint-amand-montrond.

• Rolf Aldag (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe DS) - Disposing of waste or other objects outside of litter zones 500CHF*
• Gabriel Rasch (Uno-X Mobility DS) Disposing of waste or other objects outside of litter zones 500CHF*

Stage 11: Évaux-les-Bains - Le Lioran

• Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) - Unauthorised feeding - stage race, last 20km 500CHF, 20-second penalty , 6 points at points classification
• Julien Jurdie (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale DS) - Unauthorised feeding - stage race, last 20km 1000CHF

Stage 12: Aurillac > Villeneuve-sur-Lot

• Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) - Deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers another rider or irregular sprint. 500CHF*, relegation, -13 points toward points classification
• Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) - Deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers another rider or irregular sprint. 500CHF*, relegation, -13 points toward points classification
• Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) Inappropriate behaviour. 200CHF

Stage 13 - Agen- Pau

• Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) - 1500CHF* and -60 UCI points for shoulder-barging Amaury Capiot during the sprint.
• Luke Durbridge (Jayco-AlUla) - 500CHF, -25 UCI points for disposing waste outside litter zone
• Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) - 500CHF, -25 UCI points for disposing waste outside litter zone

Stage 14: Pau - Pla d'Adet

Stage 15: loudenvielle - plateau de beille.

• Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) Relegation to the third place in the intermediate sprint. 500CHF*, – 5 points points classification
• Steve Bauer (Israel-Premier Tech DS)  Irregular feeding, 200CHF*

Stage 16: Gruissan - Nîmes

• Johannes Kulset (Uno-X) - Sheltering behind vehicle, 200CHF* - 15 UCI Points, -10 Points in points classification, 30'' penalty
• Franz Maassen (Visma-Lease a Bike DS) - Sheltering rider behind vehicle 500CHF*

Stage 17:Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux-Superdévoluy

Stage 18: gap - barcelonnette.

• Rolf Aldag (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe DS) - disposing of waste outside litter zone, 500CHF*
• Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) - Inappropriate behaviour, 200CHF

Stage 19: Embrun-Isola 2000

• Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Zak Dempster (DS) - Body Number missing at the crossing of the finish line 200CHF each

Stage 20: Nice - Col de la Couillole

• Enric Mas (Movistar) and Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) - disposing of waste or other objects outside litter zone, 500CHF and 25 UCI Points

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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.

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