Tour de France 2023: Yellow, green, mountain jersey & white explained - the regulations

The yellow jersey

The leader in the overall standings at the Tour de France receives the Yellow jersey - often also called maillot jaune. In other words, the rider with the lowest overall time - including time credits and penalties.

Time credits ...

... are awarded at the finish on all stages (except the time trial on stage 16). The first three riders are credited 10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively. Bonus seconds - 8, 5 and 2 respectively - will also be awarded on six other stages (1, 2, 5, 12, 14 and 17). They are awarded on mountain passes and other strategically important climbs during the course of the respective stage.

In the event that two riders finish in the same time, the hundredths of a second from the individual time trials will be used for the classification. If there is still no decision, the positions at the end of the individual stages of the Tour de France are added together - the rider with the lower number wins. If there is still no winner, the position at the finish of the last stage counts.

The three-kilometre rule ...

... spares riders who crash in the last three kilometres or whose bike has a defect. The rule does not apply to stages that end with a mountain finish (stages 6, 9, 13, 15 and 17) and in the time trial (stage 16). These riders will receive the same time as the group they were in at the time of the mishap.

The green jersey

The leader in the points classification wears the Green jersey - but this does not necessarily mean the fastest sprinter.

How does the points classification work at the Tour de France?

Points are awarded to the first 15 riders at the daily finish and the intermediate sprint. Depending on the type and difficulty of the stage, each stage is given a coefficient from 1 to 6, which means that there are different numbers of points to be scored at the daily finish. Traditionally, and due to the distribution of points, which favours winners on flat stages, the winner of this classification is also called the best sprinter of the Tour.

The distribution of points for the green jersey on the stages of the 2023 Tour de France

On stages 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 18, 19 and 21, which have a coefficient of 1 or 2, there are 50-30-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-7-6-5- 4-3-2 points for the first 15 riders at the finish.

On stages 1, 9, 10, 12 and 13, which have a coefficient of 3, there are 30-25-22-19-17-15-15-13-11-9-7-6-5-4-3-2 points for the first 15 riders at the finish.

On stages 5, 6, 14, 15, 17 and 20, which have a coefficient of 4 and 5, there are 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points for the first 15 riders at the finish.

In the individual time trial (16th stage), which has a coefficient of 6, there are 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 at the finish for the top 15 of the stage.

Intermediate sprints

There will be an intermediate sprint on every stage of the 2023 Tour de France (except for the individual time trial). The first 15 riders at the intermediate sprint receive points for the green jersey - the points key: 20-17-15-13-11-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

The mountain jersey

The jersey with the red dots on a white background (also known as the Dotted jersey) is awarded to the rider who has collected the most points in the mountain classifications.

The climbs in the Tour de France are categorised according to their length, difficulty and sporting importance - from HC (Hors Categorie or category of honour) down to the 4th category. Points are awarded according to the category - here is the scheme.

Hors Categorie: 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 points for the first eight drivers
1st category: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 point for the first six riders
2nd category: 5, 3, 2, 1 point for the first four drivers
3rd category: 2, 1 point for the first two riders
4th category: 1 point for the first driver

On the summit of the Col de la Loze (17th stage), a mountain in the honour category and at 2304 metres the roof of the 2023 Tour de France, the points are doubled. The first to reach the summit will receive 40 points.

Where the individual mountain classifications are located on the stages, see the profiles in our stage overview.

The white jersey

The White jersey is awarded to the best-placed young professional in the overall standings of the Tour de France. In 2023, this category includes all riders born on or after 1 January 1998.

The team ranking

The leading team in the team classification wears yellow start numbers. To determine the team classification, the riding times of the three best riders of each team are added together.

Most combative driver

The most combative rider of the previous stage wears the red back number. The so-called Prix de la combativite is awarded by a jury chaired by the race director on all mass start stages - except the final stage. In Paris, the most combative rider of the entire Tour (super-combatif) is honoured.

The ranking of the jerseys ...

... is mandatory: If a rider leads in several classifications, yellow must be worn before green, followed by the dotted jersey and the white jersey. The next rider in the respective classification then wears the jersey.

The time limit (grace period)

The maximum gap that a rider can allow himself to be behind the stage winner at the finish of a stage is called the time limit or grace time: depending on the coefficient of a stage, based on the length, difficulty and pace of the stage winner, a percentage mark-up on the winner's riding time determines how much more time the last riders on a stage can take - otherwise they risk disqualification.

The coefficients of the stages of the 2023 Tour de France

Example for calculating the waiting period

An example calculation will illustrate the whole thing. Let's assume that the difficult mountain stage of the 2023 Tour de France to Courchevel is ridden by the winner at an average speed of 36 km/h in 4 hours and 42 minutes (i.e. 282 minutes). Coefficient 5 is specified for the stage, which states that at an average speed of 36 km/h, a rider receives 17 per cent of the winning time as a grace period. The value of 17 per cent is fixed by the organiser in the regulations (see illustration).

In our case, at 17 per cent of 282 minutes, that would be 47:56 minutes, which would be the grace time on this stage. Under certain circumstances, however, the jury can also increase the limit and prevent riders from being excluded.

The percentage mark-ups for the individual coefficients

What coronavirus rules apply at the Tour de France?

After the numerous coronavirus cases at the Giro d'Italia, which also included co-favourite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step), the Tour de France will once again introduce an anti-coronavirus protocol, as in 2023.

A return to the "team bubbles" is planned. Contact with the outside world is not desired by drivers or staff. Autographs and selfies with fans are to be avoided, eating outside the team hotel is prohibited. Masks will once again be a constant companion. Social distancing is once again the order of the day. Non-members of the teams will only have access to the paddock in the run-up to the race on 29 June.

In the worst case, a violation of the protocol can be penalised with disqualification.