Tour de France Jerseys In Yellow, Polka Dot and Green… What Does It All Mean?
One of the most often asked question is what is the YELLOW jersey, or what is the POLKA DOT jersey. And the second question I get asked often is how much money do they win. Well I am going to answer both of these questions, so read below for my primer;
General Classification (GC) Winner
YELLOW JERSEY: Pays $605,000 - The rider with the fastest overall time at the end of the Tour de France (all 3 weeks) is crowned the winner and awarded the YELLOW Jersey. During the race the rider with the lowest or fastest cumulative time after each stage finish get to wear the YELLOW jersey the next race day. Each stage (excluding the time trials) has time bonuses to be won. The time bonuses can be 6, 4, or 2 seconds (deducted from the riders overall time) are awarded to the first three riders to cross the intermediate sprint lines. There are three intermediate sprints included on flat stages, and two intermediate sprints on most other stages. Time bonuses of 20, 12, and 8 seconds are awarded to the first three riders to cross the finish line on the non-time trial stages.
2006 Winner: Floyd Landis (USA) - Phonak
Points Competition
GREEN JERSEY: Pays $33,500 - The GREEN jersey is worn throughout the Tour de France by the rider who has accumulated the most points. Points are awarded at the intermediate sprints (on the road stages) and at every stage finish. He who has the most points at the end of the Tour wins the GREEN jersey.
2006 Winner: Robbie McEwen (AUS) - Davitamon-Lotto
King Of The Mountains (KoM)
POLKA-DOT JERSEY: Pays $33,500 - Mountain points are awarded at the summit of all categorized climbs.The points that are awarded at the final climb on any major climb are worth double points. The rider wearing the POLKA-DOT jersey during a individual stage is considered a climbing stud, but the rider who has the POLKA-DOTS on the last day of the Tour earns glory and cash.
2006 Winner: Michael Rasmussen (DK) - Rabobank
Best Young Rider
WHITE JERSEY: Pays $26,800 - Any rider under the age of 25 can compete for this jersey, which is determined by the riders time classification. The rider with the lowest overall time at the end of the Tour has guaranteed himself a raise next year.
2006 Winner: Damiano Cunego (I) - Lampre-Fondital
Most Aggressive Rider
Pays $26,800 - A committee of eight race experts picks this rider after all non-time trial stages. At the conclusion of the Tour, one rider is designated as the most aggressive overall rider,a nd takes the cash.
2006 Winner: David De La Fuente (SP) - Saunier Duval-Prodir
Team Classification
Pays $67,000 - After each stage the times of the three best-placed riders is added up. The lowest cumulative time at the end of the Tour wins.
2006 Winner: T-Mobile
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Don’t the intermediate sprints pay a little to the rider as well?