What do the different jerseys mean in the Tour de France?
Four coloured jerseys mark the leaders of four separate competitions running simultaneously within the race.
Yellow (maillot jaune) — the general classification leader, meaning the lowest cumulative time across all stages so far. This is the overall race lead and the one that matters most. The colour comes from the yellow newsprint of L'Auto, the newspaper that founded the race.
Green (maillot vert) — the points classification, awarded for finishing positions and intermediate sprints. Flat stages carry more points than mountain stages, so it is usually won by a sprinter rather than an overall contender.
Polka dot (maillot à pois) — the mountains classification, or King of the Mountains. Points are awarded at the summits of categorised climbs, with harder climbs worth more.
White (maillot blanc) — the best young rider, meaning the highest-placed rider on general classification aged 25 or under.
A rider leading more than one classification wears the most prestigious jersey, and the second-placed rider in the other competition wears its jersey instead — which is why the polka dot jersey is sometimes worn by someone who is not leading that classification.
The race is a team sport despite individual classifications. Riders work for a designated leader, shielding them from wind, fetching food and water, and pacing them on climbs. Drafting behind another rider saves a substantial share of the effort, which is why the peloton forms and why a solo breakaway is so hard to sustain.
Stage wins are prized separately, and many riders target them without any classification ambition at all.