Jerseys of the Tour de France Home > Events > Cycling > Tour de France > Jerseys Jerseys of the Tour de France In the Tour, a colored jersey is generally associated with each prize, and the current holder of the prize is required to wear the jersey when racing. The rider leading a classification at the end of a stage is required to wear the corresponding jersey during the next stage. Jerseys are awarded in a ceremony immediately following the stage. Where a single rider leads in the competition for more than one jersey, they wear the most prestigious jersey to which they are entitled, and the second-placed rider in each of the other classifications becomes entitled to wear the corresponding jersey. Yellow Jersey The yellow jersey, known in French as the maillot jaune, is worn by the overall time leader, and is the most prized jersey. It is awarded by calculating the total combined race time up to that point for each rider. The yellow jersey was first awarded in 1919 to make the race leader stand out. The color yellow was chosen because the pages of the race sponsor's magazine, L'Auto, were yellow. Green Jersey The green jersey, known in French as the maillot vert, is awarded to the cyclist with the highest number of sprint points.

Points for this jersey are gained by the riders who finish first, second, etc., at the end of each stage. The number of points for each place and the number of riders rewarded varies depending on the type of stage as the flatter stages are more likely to result in a sprint finish. Flat stages give the winner 35 points down to 1 point for the 25th rider; medium mountain stages give the winner 25 points down to 1 point for the 20th rider; high mountain stages give the winner 20 points down to 1 point for the 15th rider. Points are also awarded for individual time trial stages: 15 for the winner down to 1 for the 10th rider. Additional points are available at intermediate sprint contests, usually occurring 2 or 3 times in each stage at pre-determined locations; currently 6, 4 and 2 points are available to the first 3 riders at each sprint. Polka Dot Jersey The winner of the King of the Mountain wears a white jersey with red dots (known as the maillot à pois rouges in French), which is commonly referred to as the "polka dot jersey".

Although the best climber was first recognized in 1933 as the "King of the Mountain", the distinctive polka dot jersey was not introduced until 1975. The colors were decided by the then sponsor, Poulain Chocolate, to match a popular product. At the top of each climb in the Tour, there are points awarded for the riders who are first over the top. The climbs are divided into categories, from 1 to 4 based on their difficulty with 1 being the most difficult, measured as a function of their steepness and length. A fifth category, called Hors categorie (outside category) is formed by mountains even more difficult than those of the number 1 category. In 2004, the scoring system was changed so that the first rider over a fourth category climb was awarded 3 points while the first to complete a hors category climb would win 20 points. Further points over a fourth category climb are only for the top three places while on a hors category climb the top ten riders are rewarded. Also, beginning in 2004, the points scored on the final climb of the day were doubled if such a climb was at least a second category climb.

White Jersey A lesser classification is that for the white jersey (known as the maillot blanc in French), which is like the yellow jersey, but only open for young riders (those who are less than 25 years old on January 1 of the year the Tour is ridden). Other (non-jersey) Awards There is a special award for the cyclist that shows the most "fighting spirit" as determined by a group of judges based on points awarded to riders who made particularly attacking moves that day. The rider with most points in total gets a white-on-red (instead of a black-on-white) identification number. Then there is a team classification which is determined by adding the time of the first three riders from each team after each stage. Historically, the team classification is not associated with a particular jersey design, though starting in 2006, the leading team wears a yellow number attached to their jersey instead of the standard white. Old Jerseys There are a few jersey that are no longer awarded. There used to be a red jersey awarded for the standings in non-stage-finish sprints. This jersey and award was abolished in 1989.

The red jersey was determined by adding points which were awarded to the first three riders to pass two or three intermediate locations during the stage. These sprints also scored points towards the green jersey and bonus seconds towards the overall classification, as well as cash prizes offered by the residents of the area where the sprint took place. The sprints still remain in the Tour with the bonus seconds, prizes and points towards the green jersey are still awarded There was also a combination jersey, which had a patchwork design, with areas resembling each individual jersey design. This jersey was presented to the leader of a points system based on standings for the yellow, green, red, and polka-dot jerseys. This was abolished in 1989, the same year the red jersey was abolished. Other Jerseys Rainbow Jersey The current world champion can wear the rainbow jersey when he competes in the Tour de France. National Jerseys The current national road race champions can wear their national jerseys in "ordinary stages", while the national time-trial champions are allowed to wear their national jerseys in the time-trial stages only. Share: Tour de France: What do the coloured jerseys mean?

By Emma Daly Saturday 4 July 2015 at 12:01AM A pack of 198 riders have descended on the Dutch city of Utrecht for this year's Tour de France. It's the 102nd edition of the prestigious three-week racing event and on 26th July the holder of the iconic yellow jersey will be crowned champion. The jerseys often move between riders as each team battles to get their riders the most points or the fastest times in each of the 21 stages. Here's how the cyclists, including defending champion Vincenzo Nibali, can get their hands on one (or more) of those instantly recognisable jerseys: Yellow Traditionally known as the maillot jaune, this iconic jersey is given to the rider with the lowest cumulative time going into each new stage. At the end of the entire tour, it’s the holder of the yellow jersey who’s crowned the overall winner. Throughout the tour, if a rider is leading in more than one classification, he’ll wear the yellow jersey as it’s the most important in the race. The other jersey will be given to the rider placed second in that classification.

The Tour de France has finished on the Champs-Élysées every year since 1975 when French cyclist Bernard Thévenet won. To mark the 40th anniversary of this famous finish, the 2015 yellow jersey is inspired by Thévenet's jaune maillot (same collar and zipper), and features an Arc de Triomphe motif (click the thumbnail for a larger image). Polka-dot The rider wearing the white jersey with red polka-dots is known as the 'King of the Mountains', as it’s awarded to the best climber in the race. During stages that involve climbs, points are awarded to the first rider to reach the top, as well as a number of riders who follow closely behind. Ascents are graded – based on length, gradient and their position in the stage – from 4 (the easiest) to hors catégorie (the hardest). The category of the climb denotes how many points are awarded and how many riders are eligible. For example, ten riders can pick up points on a climb that falls into the hardest category, while only the first over the top of the climb of a fourth category ascent will be awarded a point.

Points are doubled on summit finish days, which this year is stages 10, 12, 17, 19 and 20. The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933. Spain’s Vicente Trueba was the first winner, although the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys, winning it seven times between 1994 and 2004. Green This is the sprinter’s jersey and so points are based on position across the line rather than time. Flatter stages offer greater points rewards and extra points can be obtained via intermediate sprints called ‘primes’ or ‘hot spots’ along the route. For race finishes, points are awarded on a sliding scale to the first 15 riders across the line.

There’s been an increase in the points for the six flat stages this year , where the winner will pick up fifty (instead of 45) points and then continuing as follows: 30, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. For seven stages the highest number of points on offer is 25 while for the mountain stages and opening time trial the winner will receive 20 points. The team trial during stage 9 won't result in any points being awarded. The first week of the race will also see the reintroduction of time bonuses, last seen in the tour in 2007. These will be awarded at the finishes from the second to eighth stages. Ten, six and four seconds will be awarded to the first three riders of each of these stages, giving the sprinters a chance of also wearing the yellow jersey. The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schär in 1953. White The white jersey is awarded in the same way as the yellow, but only riders aged 25 and younger are eligible.

It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000 and has been worn by some of the best talents in the sport including Alberto Contador in 2007 and Pierre Rolland in 2012. The Jerseys of the Tour - Tour de France 2014 The Jerseys of the Tour Homepage > The Jerseys of the Tour The Jerseys of the Tour THE TOUR DE FRANCE JERSEYS Le Tour de France 2014 extends its route for England! The iconic Tour de France race will see the French manufacturer honour the English county of Yorkshire, which will be hosting the Grand Départ in July 2014. DESIGN The 1951 first historic flat seamed collared Yellow Jersey from le coq sportif is re-interpreted for the 2014 edition with the famous white rose of Yorkshire – a touch of originality that will unite perfectly alongside the velvety, flocked le coq sportif logo and the initials of the founder of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange.

These two uniquely French signatures are joined by an inscription on the back of the jersey, also in French, dedicated to Desgrange and stating: “En 1903, Henri Desgrange créait le plus grand évènement cycliste de tous les temps “ (In 1903, Henri Desgrange created the greatest cycling event of all time). The inside of the collar is lined with the little triangles so dear to le coq sportif’s heart and the tricolour label on the back adds the French signature finishing touch to the 2014 jersey. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY & EXPERTISE The 2014 Yellow Jersey is constructed from a mixture of high tech materials that ensure it is ultra-light and are demonstrated in aerodynamic properties such as; the front panel, the anatomical cut that fits the rider’s body perfectly, and a transparent silicone band printed with the famous le coq sportif initials with multi-triangle motif on the back of the jersey at the bottom. This season, the bands on the bottom front of the jersey and inside the sleeve-edges are made of polyurethane, ensuring they stay perfectly in place and stop any air getting in.

The sleeves are cut from a single, supple and seamless piece of elastane-mix fabric to further increase rider comfort, and stop just below the triceps, avoiding all pressure points so as to improve blood flow in the arms. Additional key details include a mid-length zip to improve airflow, which is also helped by two ventilation panels in the back. A triangular one at the nape of the neck, made of ultra-breathable 3D mesh, is joined to a second micro-aerated mesh panel across the back. All these features are designed to regulate the rider’s temperature in the varied weather conditions, reducing energy expenditure. Last but not least, the jersey boasts only flat, non-irritating seams. For this new season of sport, le coq sportif has once again combined expertise with a spirit of path-breaking innovation in its efforts to offer Tour de France champions a daring fusion of advanced technology and style. © Le Coq Sportif Green jersey The green jersey was created in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the race. It brought a new interest to the race, the yellow jersey not being the only jersey at stake any longer. The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schaer.

It is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are being awarded in the intermediate sprints and the stage finishes. It has been sponsored by PMU since 1992. © Le Coq Sportif Polka-dot jersey The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933 for the best climbers (first winner: Spain’s Vicente Trueba). But the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys: he won it seven times between 1994 and 2004. The polka-dot jersey is sponsored by Carrefour. © Le Coq Sportif White jersey It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000. It rewards the best-placed under-25 rider in the overall standings.

The jersey revealed some of the best talents in the sport – Denis Menchov in 2003, Alberto Contador in 2007, Andy Schleck from 2008 and 2010, Pierre Rolland in 2012. It has been sponsored by Skoda since 2004. BBC Sport Academy | Other Sport | Cycling | Who wears what at the Tour de France? Who wears what at the Tour de France? Around the Academy: All together now: yellow, polka-dot, white and green Among the many team tops worn by riders at the Tour de France there are four instantly recognisable jerseys. They are coloured yellow, white, green and white with red polka-dots. But who wears them and what does each one mean? The overall winner wears one and so does the fastest sprinter. There is a special jersey worn by the best climber and one is awarded to the best young rider. But who wears what? Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean? - CSMonitor.com Tour de France 101: What do different color jerseys mean?

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg (l.) and Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, ride in the pack during the sixth stage of the Tour de France on Friday. Christophe Ena/AP of What do the different color Tour de France jerseys mean? YELLOW: The maillot jaune, the yellow jersey, is the signature chemise of the Tour de France . It designates the overall leader of the race so far. When cyclists finish the three-week race by cruising through the streets of Paris , the photo of the yellow-shirted winner is seen around the globe. The yellow jersey is awarded after each of the 20 stages, or race days, to the rider who is the overall leader of the race so far. Each day the total amount of time taken to finish that stage is added to the cumulative time of all previous races, and the overall leader is determined. The next day, he wears the yellow throughout the stage. Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test? GREEN: The green jersey, or maillot vert, is the sprinter’s jersey. At every stage, points are awarded to the first 10-25 riders that cross the finish line.

The amount of sprint points awarded depends on the day’s course (a flat course produces more points than the mountain terrain) and in what place the rider finishes that day. Some stages have mini-sprints within the stage that are worth points. German Erik Zabel holds the record for winning the final green jersey in the Tour six consecutive times, between 1996 and 2001. Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 WHITE WITH RED POLKA DOTS: This is the King of the Mountains jersey. Points are awarded to the first rider to reach the crest of designated hills and mountains. Mountains are graded according to steepness, length, and position on the course, and points correspond to the grade. The best climber awards began in 1933, and the maillot à pois rouges was first worn in 1975. WHITE: This jersey is worn by the fastest overall rider under the age of 25 (on Jan. 1 in the year of the race). The first white jersey was worn in 1975. There are other prizes and competitions within the Tour de France that don’t involve jerseys.

For example, the most combative rider of each stage – the one who tries to break clear of the field – will wear a red number on a white background, instead of the usual black on white. And the team prize – based on the team with the fastest three riders – wears a black number on a yellow background. More Tour de France 101 stories: Tour de France jersey colours and prize money – a guide - BikeRadar BikeRadar Procycling Magazine Procycling brings you the colour, action and drama of the world's most spectacular sport in a glossy and dynamic magazine. It's the authoritative, worldwide voice of international professional road racing, distributed in every country where there are English-speaking fans. With exclusive features and spectacular photography, Procycling brings to life the complexities, rivalries and hardships of the European professional scene. Cycling Plus Cycling Plus is the manual for the modern road cyclist. Whether you're cycling weekly, an occasional new rider or a Tour de France fan you’ll find everything you need. Every issue is packed with expert reviews of the latest road bikes and gear, inspirational routes and rides, evocative features that take you inside every aspect of cycling and unmatched nutrition, fitness and training advice.

What Mountain Bike UK What Mountain Bike is the magazine that gets to the heart of what matters in mountain biking. Whether it's new bikes, fresh kit, inspiring photography or the low down on the latest trail developments, What Mountain Bike has something for every rider. Our team cuts through jargon and marketing spin to tell you what you need to know, with honest, informed opinions and a wealth of experience. Mountain Biking UK Mountain Biking UK celebrates everything that is great about mountain biking, enabling people of all abilities and ages to have a better time on their bike. MBUK brings you all the latest news, coolest kit, plus exclusive info on the newest and best bikes that you can buy. June 28, 2014 8:00am GMT Share on Facebook Tour de France jersey colours and prize money - a guide Plus other rules explained and frequently asked questions answered 1 / 9 All the 2013 jerseys together.

L-R: Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp), Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Chris Froome (Sky), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) (Tim de Waele) 2 / 9 Chris Froome accepts his yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees in Paris last year. Can he make it two in a row? (Tim de Waele) The white jersey for the best young rider (Courtesy) The Tour de France yellow jersey, with the white rose of Yorkshire emblem (Courtesy) The green jersey for the most consistent finisher (Courtesy) The disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber (Courtesy) Speeds in the Tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes (AFP/Getty Images) 8 / 9 Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things (AFP/Getty Images) 9 / 9 Not everyone can cross the line at once.

To avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time (AFP/Getty Images) Skip Ad On Saturday, 5 July, the 2014 Tour de France will begin in Yorkshire and a battle for the yellow jersey will start. While competition for the fabled maillot jaune towers over the three-week race, other contests add to the rich tapestry of the race's 101st edition. Here, BikeRadar runs through the meanings behind the yellow, green, polka dot and white jersey colours, and who we think are the favourites are to win them. Yellow jersey (maillot jaune) Awarded to the rider with the lowest aggregated time after each stage. For 2014, the route contains numerous opportunities for contenders to attack. There are six designated mountain stages, of which five are summit finishes. This year there's just one time trial – a 54km race on stage 20 that could be decisive in annointing the winner. Along the way, yellow jersey favourites will have to avoid crashes and beware of traps set by rival teams in crosswinds or over tricky terrain.

Unlike the Giro d’Italia , there are no time bonuses awarded for winning stages.The final overall winner of the yellow jersey will take home €450,000, which will typically be split among his teammates. Favourites: Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Tejay van Garderen (BMC) The tour de france yellow jersey, with the white rose of yorkshire emblem: the tour de france yellow jersey, with the white rose of yorkshire emblem Tour de France maillot jaune Green jersey (maillot vert) The green jersey points competition was established more than 60 years ago for the most consistent finisher. Competition rules mean it’s weighted towards sprinters – more points are on offer on flat stages than medium mountain, high mountain and individual TT stages. On a sprint stage, the winner collects 45 points; on a medium mountain stage, 30 points; in the high mountains and individual time trial stages, just 20 points. Points are awarded on a sliding scale down to 15th place.

Additionally, green jersey points are awarded at intermediate sprints, down to 15 riders – 20 points for first place down to one for the 15th rider. The competition structure means strategy is just as key as pure speed – contenders can gamble all and target the finales of the nine flat sprint stages, or try to escape the peloton and hoover up points on intermediate sprints. It’s an intriguing battle that begins on the very first day and can last right up to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées. The winner will collect €25,000. Favourites: Peter Sagan ( Cannondale ), Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Marcel Kittel The green jersey for the most consistent finisher: the green jersey for the most consistent finisher The maillot vert is for the most consistent finisher Polka dot jersey Red polka dots denote the best climber, defined by the rider who accumulates the most points cresting hills and mountains at the front of the race. Summits are classified according to difficulty – fourth category climbs are mild, HC climbs are leg breakers.

As with the green jersey, points are awarded on sliding scales for lesser-placed finishers. In a further twist, polka dot points are doubled on the five summit finish days (La Planche des Belle Filles, Chamrousse, Risoul, Pla d'Adet and Hautacam). The battle for the jersey will likely burst into life on stage nine when the peloton tackle six categorised climbs during the 170km stage. The probable route to the €25,000 prize lies in targeting category one (10 points for the winner) and HC climbs (25 points) and being very close to the front on days when points are doubled. The structure means someone well-placed on the general classification stands a good chance of collecting this jersey. Favourites: Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol), Vincenzo Nibali, Thibaut Pinot The disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber: the disinctive polka dot jersey for the best climber Specialist climbers will be after the polka dot jersey White jersey Awarded to the best young rider in the general classification.

To be eligible for the €20,000 prize, riders must be aged 25 or under. Favourites: Tejay van Garderen BMC; Rohan Dennis ( Garmin -Sharp) The white jersey for the best young rider: the white jersey for the best young rider The simple white jersey Team competition The battle for best team is an underrated one that usually simmers for three weeks. The competition is based on adding the times of each team’s first three finishers at every stage finale. The winning squad will have with the lowest accumulated time, and take home €50,000. Favourites: BMC Racing, Tinkoff-Saxo Bank, AG2R-La Mondiale Most aggressive rider Watch out for a rider wearing a red race number (dossard rouge) – it denotes that they were the most aggressive rider the previous day, based largely on the amount of time they spent the breakaway. However, it also has a subjective element; an eight-person jury of cycling experts conclude on winners. At the end of the 21 stages, the jury awards €20,000 to the ‘super-combative’ rider.

Favourites: Christophe Riblon (AG2R-La Mondiale), Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) Other frequently asked questions about the Tour de France What's the average speed of the Tour de France? The average speed of modern editions of the Tour de France is typically in the region of 40km/h (25mph). The fastest ever Tour de France average speed was 41.654 km/h (25.88mph) over the 3608km of the 2005 edition. Note, the winner that year, Lance Armstrong, was subsequently disqualified from all his Tour victories for doping. The 2010-2012 editions of the Tour averaged between 39.5 and 40km/h. Last year the speed crept up to 40.5km/h. The fastest average speed in a mass start road stage of the Tour de France is 50.355 km/h over 194.5km by Mario Cipollini in the Laval-Blois stage in 1999 .

The fastest ever prologue time trial (under 8km) is 55.152km/h over 7.2km, set by Chris Boardman in the prologue of the 1994 Tour de France in Liege. The fastest mid-length (8-30km) time trial was 54.676km/h over 19km set by David Zabriskie in the first stage of the 2005 Tour. The fastest long time trial is 54.359km/h over 49km, ridden by David Millar in stage 19 of the 2003 Tour. Average speeds in the Tour are influenced by wind direction and strength, hilliness, aerodynamics, weight, tactics and, of course, rider power output. How long is the Tour de France? The Tour's length has changed greatly since it first started in 1903 with a 2,428km race. The following year was the shortest ever Tour at 2,420km, before the trend towards longer races took hold.

This peaked in 1926 with a 5,745km race, which was the longest ever Tour de France. Since 1999, the Tour's length has varied between 3,282km and 3,657km run over 21 stages. The 2014 Tour de France is 3,664km long. Why do so many riders have the same finish time? They can't all cross the line together surely? Not everyone can cross the line at once. to avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time: Not everyone can cross the line at once. To avoid everyone contesting the finish, each rider in a given bunch is awarded the same time It's impossible for 180 riders to all cross the line simultaneously, of course, so the Tour (and most other stage races) operates the legal fiction that all the riders in the race's main pack cross the line at the same time as the first rider of that group. But if a split forms and the gap is larger than one second, the next group gets the time of the first rider of that group.

Overall, it's designed to save a mad rush for the line and in most cases it's too difficult to allocate separate times. How is the teams classification calculated? The teams classification is calculated based on the total time of the first three riders across the line from each team each day, rather than the first three riders on general classification from each team. The winner of this classification is the team with the lowest cumulative overall time at the end of 20 stages. If a team is reduced to less than three riders, they are eliminated from the teams competition. How do you get a negative number of points in the points classification? A number of readers have commented on a curiosity in the points classification in the fight for the green jersey, where some riders actually have negative points. This arises because the organisers impose penalties for various infractions in a number of ways. The most common is a monetary fine, paid in Swiss francs. A harsher penalty is to add time from the rider's GC time, or deduct points from their points tally. If the rider has been particularly naughty, they will be disqualified from the race.

Riders can be penalised in a lot of ways, for example, hanging onto a team car, or taking too many 'bottles' from the director sportif; answering the call of nature in front of the public (when you gotta go, you gotta go); causing another rider to crash, or otherwise riding dangerously in the bunch; hitching a ride to the finish in the Tour director, Christian Prudhomme's car; giving spectators the evil eye, and so on. What method is used to decide who wears the green jersey when two riders are tied on points? When two riders have an equal number of points, the criteria used to decide who should wear the green jersey is the rider with the most number of second places where points have been allocated, then the most number of third places, and so on. What do the climb categories mean? Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things: Mountain categories are decided by the severity of the climb and its position in the stage, among other things Climbs are graded according to their severity, from fourth (easy) to first (hard) category, plus the very hardest climbs which are considered 'hors categorie' or 'beyond category'.

The gradings take into account the length and steepness of the climb and the position of the climb in the stage, with the quality of the road surface making up a final, less important factor. How are the gradients calculated? A grade of, say, 10 percent, simply means that the road ascends 10m for every 100m it travels horizontally. For those with a mathematical bent, it's a simple tangent ratio. Climb grades are averages for the whole climb, so a straightforward-sounding six percent grade can hide some much steeper pitches that make it a monster. So how fast are these guys, really? Average speeds, even across the same race route, can vary markedly depending on the tactics employed by various teams. Generally speaking, on a flat-ish stage of around 200km in length, the average speed of the peloton would be in excess of 50 km/h on the flatter sections and around 60 km/h in the final kilometres of the stage.

Speeds in the tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes: Speeds in the Tour can be very high, over 60km/h on the flat sometimes Obviously for a break to stay away, they need to be moving faster than the peloton; and by using time checks from the race organisers as well as information from team directors, the riders in the break know what speed they need to be travelling at to stay away and the riders in the bunch know what speed they need to be moving at to catch the break – which is why it almost seems to happen like clockwork when the peloton bridge the gap to the breakaway group, often with less than 10km to go. Climbing speeds are particularly difficult to place an arbitrary figure on due to the huge variation in gradients, relative altitude, temperature, wind velocity and direction, and road surfaces. Again, generally speaking, on a climb like Mont Ventoux with an average gradient of around 7.5 percent, the riders in the "laughing group" would be travelling at around 10km/h on the steeper sections of the climb due to its severity.

Again, the speeds encountered in bunch sprints vary depending on the type of finish; however the winners in previous stages of the Tour de France have reached speeds in excess of 70km/h. Now that's movin'. How do the organisers decide the start order for the prologue and following time trials throughout the race? The start order for the prologue of any Grand Tour is determined by race management, with last year's winner always riding last. The start order for the following time trials is based on a rider's time on general classification from the stage prior to the time trial, with the riders lowest on the overall classification leaving first. If a rider was first last year and wears number 1, why doesn't last year's second place wear number 2? The only rider number that indicates the placing of a rider from the previous year's race is the overall winner. There is no particular order for the riders from other teams, though it is customary for the team's protected GC rider to also wear the dossard that ends in a one – 11, 31 181, etc.

Related Links Tour de France video: Top 5 climbers to watch | Cyclingnews.com Tour de France video: Top 5 climbers to watch Tour de France countdown: 6 days to go 1 / 5 Can Rafal Majka win another King of the Mountains title? 2 / 5 Julian Arredondo (Trek) won the mountains classication (Bettini Photo) Pierre Rolland (Europcar) keeps his cool at the Tour de France (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto NL - Jumbo) (Bettini Photo) 5 / 5 Eritrea's Daniel Telehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka) celebrates his best climber's polka dot jersey at the end of the 131.5 km first stage of the 67th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine. (Getty Images Sport) Skip Ad With five summit finishes, the 2015 Tour de France is one of the most mountainous Grand Tours in recent years and the fight for the King of the Mountains competition is certain to be one of the most strongly contested battles in this year’s race.

Related Articles Video: Favourite memories from the Tour de France Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) lines up as the defending champion in the competition and after a slow start to the season he is starting to show signs of improving form. Majka will be expected to put his individual aims behind the team’s goal of winning the Tour with Alberto Contador, while Peter Sagan’s lust for a fourth green jersey could also relegate the polka-dot aims within the squad, but Majka’s all-round strength could still see him feature on a number of summit finishes. When it comes to home-grown success Pierre Rolland (Europcar) stands out as a potential candidate. The Frenchman wore the jersey in 2013 and has no fears when it comes to long-range attacks in the mountains. With the Giro d’Italia off his schedule this year the former Alpe d’Heuz winner (2011) has all the necessary credentials to launch a bid for the title. One rider who did take part in this year’s Giro but who could still feature heavily in the Tour de France is Steven Kruijswijk.

The LottoNL-Jumbo rider came to the fore in the third week in Italy and was unlucky to miss out on a stage win and the King of the Mountains jersey. Much depends on how he has rested after the Giro but the Dutchman, with GC expectations lifted, could certainly feature. Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN–Qhubeka) won the polka-dot jersey - his team’s first WorldTour jersey - at the recent Dauphiné and has the attributes to mount a challenge in what will be his and his team’s debut in the Tour de France. Without a true GC contender, MTN will be on the hunt for stage wins as well as spells in the green and polka-dot jerseys. And finally, another rider making his Tour de France debut is Julián Arredondo . The Colombian has shone in the Giro before and heads to France as Trek Factory Racing’s specialist climber. With Frank Schleck out of the race Arredondo might find his personal aims curtailed as the team rally around GC contender Bauke Mollema but if he’s afforded any room, Arredondo could prove to be a genuine contender for mountain points.

Classifications - Tour de France 2014 Classifications Corresponds to the total results over all the stages. Yellow jersey It rewards the leader of the general classification, calculated by adding together the times achieved on each stage. Also taken into account are any bonifications earned on the intermediate sprints or the finish. Green jersey It identifies the leader of the classification on points. The points in question are awarded according to the passing order on the intermediate sprints and at the finish line. Red polka dot jersey It identifies the best climber. The points counting towards the mountain classification are awarded on the basis of the passing order at the top of the climbs and passes. White jersey It identifies the first young rider up to 25 years old in the overall standings. Yellow bib Worn by the leaders of the overall team standings (total of times for the first three riders on each stage). Red bib This prize is awarded at the end of each stage by a jury comprising eight specialists in cycling. A “super-combativity” prize is also awarded at the end of the last stage of the Tour. Stage standing

Question: What jersey is awarded to the "King of the Hill", the best climber in the Tour de France?
Answer: Polka dot