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A guide to scoring the jerseys
Yellow, Polka-Dot, White, Green... How exactly does it all work?
YELLOW JERSEY
The yellow jersey — or maillot jaune — is worn by the overall race leader, the rider who has covered the overall distance in the least amount of cumulative time. Time bonuses (12 seconds for winning a road stage, six seconds for winning an intermediate sprint) are deducted, and time penalties (for infractions like dangerous riding or accepting pushes from spectators on the climbs) are added to riders’ stage times before calculating their GC (general classification) times.
2002 winner: Lance Armstrong, U.S. Postal Service
POINTS LEADER
The green points-leader’s jersey is awarded to the best all-around finisher on flat, rolling and mountainous stages, as well as time trials and intermediate “hot spot” sprints. With the highest points being awarded on flat stage finishes, the points jersey is often thought of as the sprinters’ jersey, but a consistent and strategic all-rounder can also be a contender.
2002 winner: Robbie McEwen, Lotto Points are scored as follows:FLAT STAGES: 35 pts, 30, 26, 24, 22, 20 ... and descending in one-point increments to 25th placeROLLING STAGES: 25 pts, 22, 20, 18, 16, 15 ... and descending in one-point increments to 20th placeMOUNTAIN STAGES: 20 pts, 17, 15, 13, 12, 10 ... and descending in one-point increments to 15th placeTIME TRIALS: 15 pts, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5 ... and descending in one-point increments to 10th placeINTERMEDIATE SPRINTS: 6 pts, 4, 2 (Three each day in stages 1-10, two each day in stages 11-20)
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
The polka-dot King of the Mountains jersey is awarded to the rider who most consistently reaches designated summits at the front of the peloton. KoM points are given not only atop mountainous finishes, but also on smaller climbs. Five-time KoM winner Richard Virenque of Lotto-Domo has openly declared his intention to reclaim the jersey that has eluded him since 1999.
2002 winner: Laurent Jalabert, CSC (retired)Climbs in the Tour are classified in five somewhat arbitrary categories:CAT. 4 Usually less than 3km in length, an easy pitch that amounts to no more than a sustained rise in the roadCAT. 3 Slightly harder, up to 5km in lengthCAT. 2 Between 5km and 10km, and steeper than a 4-percent gradeCAT. 1 Long and steep. Between 10km and 20km, and steeper than a 5-percent grade.HORS CATEGORIE (HC) or above category. The longest, steepest mountain climbs. Extremely difficult climbs, sometimes 15km to 20km, with grades exceeding 10 percent.
King of the Mountains points are scored as follows:HORS CATEGORIE To the top 15 riders, in descending order as follows: 40, 35, 30, 26, 22, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1CAT. 1 To the top 12 riders: 30, 26, 22, 18, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1CAT. 2 To the top 10 riders: 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1CAT. 3 To the top 5 riders: 10, 7, 5, 3, 1CAT. 4 To the top 3 riders: 5, 3, 1
BEST YOUNG RIDER
The white jersey — or maillot blanc — is awarded to the best-placed rider aged 25 or under. In order to qualify for this competition at the 2003 Tour, riders must have been born after January 1, 1978.
2002 winner: Ivan Basso, Fassa Bortolo (no longer eligible) TEAM CLASSIFICATION
Established by the cumulative time of the top-three individuals from each team on each stage.
2002 winner: ONCE-Eroski MOST COMBATIVE
Signified by a red race number, the most combative award is a somewhat subjective points total given by race judges each day to the riders who demonstrate the most consistent efforts in attacks and breakaways. Each rider’s points are cumulative every stage to give an overall classification.
2002 winner: Laurent Jalabert, CSC (retired)
