Tour de France 2017: The regulations - colours and rules of the Tour de France

If you want to understand the Tour de France, you should know the most important rules of the race. We have summarised everything you need to know here. Please note the change in the points scale for mountain classifications in the HC category compared to our printed edition.

The text of the 2017 Tour de France regulations can be found under the download link at the end of this news item (first part in French; second part in English).

The most important facts in brief:

• The overall classification (yellow jersey):

The times of a racer on the individual stages are added together. In closed groups, all racers are counted with the same time as the first racer in the group. Time credits (see below) and any time penalties are also included in the classification. In the individual time trial, the time is measured to the nearest hundredth of a second. If two riders have the same time in the overall classification (which is shown to the nearest second), the hundredths of a second from the time trial are taken into account. If racers are still tied, the racer with the lower total from the addition of the daily placings is in front.

• Time credits:

On every stage with a mass start (all stages except the 1st and 20th) there are time credits for the first three in the daily classification: 10, 6 and four seconds. These are deducted from the overall time.

• The junior classification (white jersey):

It is an overall classification (procedure as for the yellow jersey) in which only those riders born on 1 January 1992 or later are counted.

• Points classification (green jersey)

For the points classification for the green jersey, there are points to be collected for the first 15 on each stage. The most points can be won on flat stages: The stage winner receives 50 points. On mountain stages and in the individual time trial, only 20 points are awarded to the winner. A victory in the intermediate sprint (on all stages with a mass start) is also worth 20 points. All details on the valid points scales can be found in the attached regulations text under Article 23 on page 28 ff. The corresponding coefficients (level of difficulty) for the individual stages can be found under Article 22 (from page 26). The coefficient is decisive in determining which points scale is used for the green jersey and which mark-up applies when calculating the time limit.

• The mountain classification (white jersey with red dots)

Points are awarded for the mountain classification on a selection of categorised climbs. The most points can be scored in the highest category HC - then descending in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th categories. After our print edition went to press, the Tour de France organiser changed the points scale for the mountain classification. In 2017, the points distribution for the first eight riders on climbs in the HC category will be as follows: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-2 points. The points scale for the mountain classifications of the HC category on page 10 of our Tour de France Special in issue 7 / 2017 is therefore no longer valid! All other point scales are correct. All details can be found in the attached regulations text under Article 23 on page 28 ff.

• The ranking of the jerseys:

As it is possible for a racer to lead in several classifications at the same time, a ranking of the jerseys is defined. A rider must of course wear yellow first. This is followed by green, white with red dots (mountain jersey) and white (junior classification).

• Team classification:

For the team classification, the riding times of the best three riders of each team on each stage are added together. The overall team classification is calculated by adding up the daily classification. The riders of the leading team wear yellow start numbers on the following stage.

• Most combative driver:

Every day, a jury honours the most combative rider. This rider wears a red start number on the following stage. At the end of the tour, the most combative rider of the entire tour is chosen. The red start number takes precedence over the yellow start number (team classification).

• Three-kilometre rule

If a rider is slowed down in the last three kilometres of a stage by a crash or a defect, the time of the best rider who was in the same group with him at the time of the crash or defect will be credited to him at the finish. This rule does not apply to the time trial stages (1st and 20th) and stages 3, 5, 12, 14 and 18.

• The time limit

The regulations set a time limit for the racers on each stage. Anyone who exceeds this time limit will be disqualified. How the time limit is calculated on the individual stages can also be found in Article 22 on pages 26 and 27. Two calculation examples: Stage 1 (individual time trial in Düsseldorf) falls under coefficient 6, meaning that anyone who does not want to be disqualified may take a maximum of 30 per cent longer than the winner of the day. Assuming a winning time of 15:00 minutes, the last classified rider must not take longer than 19:30 minutes. On the mountain stage up the Col d'Izoard (18th stage), the calculation is more complicated: the day's stage is categorised with a coefficient of 4. The time limit varies depending on the average speed of the day's winner. If he rides between 34 and 35 km/h, the mark-up is twelve per cent. If the winner's riding time is 5:00:00 hours, the last rider may cross the finish line 36 minutes later. If the speed is lower, the bonus is lower. If the pace is faster, more percentage points are added. However, the jury can increase the time limit in justified cases.

• Catering

Is only permitted from the outside from kilometre 50 and up to 20 kilometres before the finish. The jury may authorise exceptions. The disposal of packaging and bottles is only permitted in the specially marked zones.

• Helmet compulsory

All participants must wear a cycling helmet that complies with UCI rules.

• Accommodation

All team members must spend the night and eat in the accommodation provided by the race organisers. The organiser will announce the addresses before the race.

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