Tour de France 2019: The regulations - Colours and rules of the Tour de France 2019

Probably the most important new feature of the 2019 Tour de France is the introduction of time bonuses at the mountain classification. On a total of eight stages, there will be eight, five and two bonus seconds for the first three riders on the last mountain classification (excluding mountain finishes). In this way, the race organiser ASO wants to create more incentives for attacks on the mountain. The mountain classifications are marked in red in the altitude profiles (HC = Hors Catégorie). All other important rules of the Tour are summarised below:

Time credits ...
... not only at the aforementioned mountain classifications, but as before at the finish of all stages (except individual and team time trials):
10, 6 and 4 seconds for the first three finishers. The time credits at the intermediate sprints have been cancelled.

The yellow jersey ...
... The leader of the overall standings - i.e. the rider with the shortest overall time, including time credits and penalties. In the event of a tie, the rider with the lower total of stage placings takes the lead; in the event of a tie, the better placing on the last stage applies. Additional criterion: the time measured in hundredths of a second in the individual time trial. If the gap between groups of riders is no more than one second, they are all counted with the same time.

The white jersey ...
... is awarded to the best-placed driver in the overall standings who was born after 1 January 1994.

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 leader's jersey is then worn by the next rider in the respective classification (more on this in the text below).

The three-kilometre rule ...
... helps riders who crash or break down in the last three kilometres of the stage. It applies to all stages with a coefficient of 1: these riders are counted with the same time as the best-placed rider in the group they were in at the time of the mishap. At the finish of these stages, groups with a gap of up to three seconds will be counted with the same time.

Yellow start numbers ...
... are carried by the racers of the team that leads the team classification. The times of the three best riders of each team are added together. In the event of a tie, the lower total of the stage placings of the three best riders will decide.

The red start number ...
... is awarded to the most combative rider on the previous stage. The so-called Prix de la Combativité is awarded by a jury chaired by the race director on the mass start stages - except for the final stage. The most combative rider of the entire Tour is honoured in Paris.

The time limit ...
... is the driving force: Depending on the length of the route and the winning pace, a percentage mark-up on the winning time determines the maximum time the last riders on a stage may take - otherwise they may be disqualified. The basic rule is: the more demanding the stage, the higher the tolerance, determined by specific coefficients for each stage.

A calculation example:

On the flat 4th stage (coefficient 1), the stage winner needs 5:00:00 hours for the stage. This corresponds to an average speed of 42.7 km/h. According to the table, at this average speed of the winner, the last rider may not exceed eight per cent longer - that would be 24:00 minutes behind. On the mountain stage from Tarbes to Col du Tourmalet (stage 14), which has a coefficient of 5, a different percentage applies due to the difficult route: if the day's winner crosses the finish line after 3:20:00 hours, i.e. at an average speed of approx. 32.55 km/h, the last rider on the day can only reach a maximum of 14 per cent take longer. In our example, the time limit ends exactly 28 minutes after the winner has reached the finish line. However, the jury has the option of increasing the time limit under certain circumstances (weather, special events).

The sprinters chase the green jersey

The red pennant hangs over the route every day and indicates the last kilometre of a stage. For us, the symbol stands for the sprinters, who fight for stage wins and the green jersey, especially on the flat stages. The green jersey is worn by the winner of the points classification, who does not necessarily have to be the fastest sprinter: The first fifteen finishers at the day's finish and at the intermediate sprint (as a green S in the respective altitude profiles) receive counters. Depending on the type and difficulty of the stage (see coefficient in the box), there are different numbers of points up for grabs at the day's finish. To give sprinters a better chance of overall victory, fewer points are awarded on mountain stages and in individual time trials than on flat stages with a mass start. In the event of a tie, the rider with more stage wins leads the classification, followed by wins in intermediate sprints. If there is still a tie, the better position in the overall standings decides.

Collect points for the mountain jersey

The symbol with the mountains stands for the climbers in the peloton. They are considered contenders to win the white jersey with the red dots, the mountain jersey. This is worn by the rider who has collected the most points in the mountain classifications. The climbs are categorised according to length and difficulty - from HC (Hors Catégorie) to 1, 2 and descending. You can see where the mountain classifications (blue or red symbol with the respective category) are located in our Elevation profiles. Points are awarded according to the category (see points scheme in the box) for the first to pass the classification. For mountain classifications with a red symbol, there are also bonus seconds, but these do not play a role in the mountain classification. The time credits are only taken into account in the overall classification, but increase the attraction of being the first to ride over the mountain.