The Tour de France jerseys are the race’s four colored classification leaders’ jerseys, and they tell you the whole story of the Tour at a glance. During the 113th edition (July 4-26, 2026, Barcelona to Paris), watch for the yellow, green, polka-dot, and white jerseys – here is exactly what each one means and how a rider earns it.
Quick Facts: the four Tour de France jerseys
- Yellow (maillot jaune): overall race leader – lowest cumulative time (the General Classification).
- Green (maillot vert): points classification, usually the best sprinter.
- Polka dot (maillot a pois): King of the Mountains – most climbing points.
- White (maillot blanc): best young rider aged 25 or under in the overall standings.
- Decided: leaders wear the jerseys each day; the final winners are crowned in Paris on July 26.
| Jersey | French name | Classification | Awarded to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Maillot jaune | General (overall time) | Rider with the lowest total time |
| Green | Maillot vert | Points | Best sprinter (stage + intermediate sprint points) |
| Polka dot | Maillot a pois | Mountains (KOM) | Most points on categorized climbs |
| White | Maillot blanc | Young rider | Best rider aged 25 or under, overall |
Yellow jersey (maillot jaune): the overall leader
The yellow jersey is the one everyone chases. It goes to the rider with the lowest cumulative time across every stage – the General Classification, or GC. The leader wears yellow into the next stage, and whoever holds it after Stage 21 in Paris wins the Tour de France. Because it is based on total time, strong all-round riders who climb and time-trial well tend to win it.
Green jersey (maillot vert): the points classification
The green jersey rewards consistency and speed. Riders earn points for their finishing position on each stage and at the intermediate sprint along the route. Flat stages are worth the most points, so the green jersey is usually won by a sprinter who can also survive the mountains to reach Paris.
Polka-dot jersey (maillot a pois): King of the Mountains
The red polka-dot jersey goes to the best climber. Riders collect points by cresting categorized climbs first, and tougher climbs are worth more points. With back-to-back Alpe d’Huez finishes on July 24-25, the 2026 mountains classification should come down to the final week.
White jersey (maillot blanc): best young rider
The white jersey uses the same overall-time standings as the yellow jersey, but only for riders aged 25 or under. It highlights the next generation of stars, and in recent years the white jersey has often been worn by a genuine GC contender.
Other jerseys and race markers
Beyond the four classifications, you will spot a few other kits: a red number on a rider’s back marks the previous stage’s most combative rider, and reigning national and world champions wear their special champion’s jerseys instead of their usual team kit. If one rider leads more than one classification, the next-best rider in the lower-priority classification wears that jersey.
When are the jersey winners decided?
The leader of each classification wears the jersey during the following stage, so the jerseys can change hands day to day. The final winners are the riders holding each jersey after the last stage in Paris on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Follow the full route on our 2026 Tour de France schedule. Track it stage by stage with our printable 2026 Tour de France stage tracker.
