Tactics & Prestige: The significance of the Tour de France Femmes classification jerseys

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will take place from 1 to 9 August 2026. Twenty-one teams, each comprising seven riders, will line up at the start, bringing the total number of riders to 147. The tour covers kilometres across Switzerland and France and comprises nine stages.

As well as stage wins, several classifications determine who wins the jerseys and awards. The Yellow Jersey recognises overall performance, the Green Jersey rewards sprinting ability, the White Jersey honours the best young female rider, and the Polka Dot Jersey goes to the best female climber.

An overview of the scores

The Yellow Jersey: the general classification

The Yellow jersey is the leader of the individual overall standings. The decisive factor is the total time taken for all stages combined. The rider with the shortest total time after the final stage wins the Tour de France Femmes.

The overall classification therefore does not reward any single special ability. A contender for the overall title must be competitive on a variety of routes:

• in the flat finale,
• on short, steep climbs,
• in the individual time trial,
• in long mountains,
• on descents and in hectic racing situations.

The 2026 programme features three flat stages, three hilly stages and two mountain stages, as well as a 21-kilometre individual time trial. The mountain finish at Mont Ventoux and the final mountain stage around Nice are expected to be particularly important.

How the Yellow Jersey influences the race

The team of the overall leader often takes control of the peloton. Her team-mates keep breakaway riders at bay, protect their captain from crashes and maintain a high pace on key climbs. However, this control takes its toll. A team cannot chase down every attack. That is why it has to weigh up its options:

• Is the breakaway rider a threat in the overall standings?
• How big can the lead get?
• When is it worth changing pace?
• Which team-mates should save their energy for the final climb?

Particularly in a stage race with tight time gaps, a few seconds can make all the difference when it comes to the Yellow Jersey, as In 2024, when Kasia Niewiadoma won the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift by a margin of just four seconds ahead of Demi Vollering won.

The Green Jersey: the points classification

The Green jersey is one of the leaders of the Points system. Points are awarded at the stage finishes and at the intermediate sprints. This means the classification is primarily aimed at fast and consistent riders.

A sprinter can rack up a lot of points across several flat stages. However, she doesn’t have to win every stage. Consistent top placings and successful intermediate sprints can be more important than a single victory. The prime example of this at the moment is Mads Pedersen, who won the Green Jersey in the men’s Tour with just one stage victory, whilst sprinter Tim Merlier won three stages. Although Merlier withdrew after the 15th stage and was therefore no longer in contention for the jersey, his three stage wins were not enough to take the Green Jersey off Pedersen at any point.

Why intermediate sprints are tactically important

An intermediate sprint can speed up the race many kilometres before the finish. It depends on whether a breakaway group has formed, which will share the sprint points amongst themselves, or whether the peloton is rolling towards the sprint together, in which case the contenders for the Green Jersey must get into a good position early on.

Even a lone breakaway rider can benefit from an intermediate sprint. Even if she is caught later on, she earns important points for the Green Jersey classification. This creates conflicts between different race objectives:

• A sprint team wants to keep the breakaway group under control.
• A team with no realistic chance of overall victory can pick up points by launching an attack.
• A rider competing in the general classification may also join the sprint towards the finish if doing so earns her extra seconds or points.

The 2026 route offers several opportunities for sprinters. The stages around Lausanne, Geneva, Sisteron and Nice are among those where the points classification is likely to take centre stage. The longest stage covers 171.9 kilometres from Sisteron to Nice.

The polka-dot jersey: the mountains classification

The white jersey with red dots awards points to the leader of the mountains classification. Points are awarded on classified climbs, mountain passes and mountain finishes. The climbs are graded according to their difficulty, from the fourth category up to the highest category, Hors Catégorie (HC).

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes will feature 39 classified climbs, mountain passes or mountain finishes.

Mont Ventoux as the highlight

At 1,910 metres, Mont Ventoux is the highest point of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes. The mountain finish is scheduled for 7 August and is likely to have a decisive impact on both the mountains classification and the general classification. The race features a total of 18,795 metres of climbing. This offers the climbers numerous opportunities to collect points and gain time on their rivals.

The interests of female skiers may vary:

• A specialist in the mountains classification may attack early in order to pick up points on several peaks.
• A contender for the Yellow Jersey tends to wait for the decisive final climb.
• A female rider from a breakaway group can go for the mountain classification, even though she is not in contention for the general classification.

The polka-dot jersey does not, therefore, necessarily have to be won by the rider leading the general classification.

The White Jersey: the young rider classification

The White jersey goes to the best female rider under 23. Unlike in the points or mountains classifications, no separate points are awarded for this. What counts is the younger riders’ position in the overall classification.

The young rider classification shows which young female riders are already able to keep up with the experienced professionals. A rider may excel particularly in time trials, in the mountains or as a versatile all-rounder.

For the teams, the white jersey is often a long-term project as well. A young rider might start the tour as a domestique. If she is well placed after a few stages, the team may change her role and give her more freedom.

The team standings: Success as a team

The team classification does not merely assess the performance of a single team captain, but is determined by the combined times of the three strongest riders. This requires several riders to consistently achieve good times. The team classification highlights what is often less noticeable in the television broadcast: namely, the strong placings behind the stage winners. A rider may forgo a stage win of her own in order to protect her team captain and her time. She may work in the wind, fetch supplies or set the pace on a climb, and still cross the finish line with a good time, just behind a few other riders. This work is crucial to the outcome of the tour, but does not always feature in the top placings on the results lists.

The most combative rider

The price for the the most combative rider recognises attacking racing. The focus is on attacks, long breakaway attempts and the determination to play an active role in shaping a stage. The award is not based on time or points, but is presented by a jury. It may also be awarded to a rider who fails to win the stage. A long breakaway group, several attacks or a key move in the final stages can be decisive factors. This prize is of particular interest to teams with no realistic chance of winning the Yellow Jersey. An attacking rider can:

• to hope for a stage win,
• Earn points in the mountains classification,
• put their team in the spotlight,
• Highlighting sponsors,
• influence the course of the race.

The award for the best female team-mate

In addition to the assessments discussed, a Award for the best team-mate awarded. This recognises a role that is essential to a team’s success but often receives less attention in the public eye. The winner is selected by a jury chaired by the race director and honoured at the end of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

A particularly valuable team member can, for example:

• keep the captain out of the wind,
• are waiting for them following a fault,
• defuse a dangerous attack,
• controlling your pace on a hill,
• Pick up some food and water bottles,
• to forgo a place of their own,
• guide a young driver through some tricky stages.

The prize therefore reflects a key principle of stage races: a single rider’s success is usually made possible by the efforts of several team-mates.

How the ratings work together

The classifications do not run independently of one another. A breakaway rider can simultaneously collect mountain points, improve her position in the general classification and be voted the most combative rider of the day. A sprinter can defend the Green Jersey even though she loses a lot of time in the mountains. The overall leader can also be the best in the mountains classification.

Conclusion on the different kits

The various classifications in the 2026 Tour de France Femmes highlight the skills that define the sport of cycling. The Yellow Jersey represents the fastest overall time and thus the overall victory, whilst the other classifications recognise sprinting ability, climbing prowess, young talent, teamwork and the courage to attack.