The Visual Legacy of the Tour de France

- Elana Iaciofano

With Smith Design-ed Products

First held in 1903, the Tour has become one of the most prestigious events in sports, captivating fans with its dramatic mountain climbs, high-speed sprints, and iconic landscapes. It’s a grueling, multi-week stage race that blends athleticism with tradition.

But beyond the peloton lies a fascinating visual language: the jerseys themselves. From the famed maillot jaune to the green, polka dot, and white jerseys, each color tells a story—honoring the race’s history, celebrating standout performances, and adding a layer of symbolism to every pedal stroke. Whether you’re new to the Tour or a longtime fan, understanding the origins of these jerseys offers a richer appreciation for the spectacle and strategy of the race.

Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune) – Overall Leader

• Introduced: 1919
• Significance: Worn by the rider with the lowest overall time (General Classification).
• Why Yellow?: It matched the yellow newsprint of L’Auto, the race’s original organizing newspaper.
• Fun Fact: Eugène Christophe was the first to wear it. At the time, it was controversial because riders felt it made them too easy to target.

Green Jersey (Maillot Vert) – Points Leader

• Introduced: 1953 (50th anniversary of the Tour)
• Significance: Awarded to the best sprinter based on points from stage finishes and intermediate sprints.
• Why Green?: It was originally sponsored by a lawn mower company, hence the green color.
• Fun Fact: Points are weighted toward flat stages to favor sprinters.

Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot à Pois Rouges) – King of the Mountains

• Introduced: 1975
• Significance: Given to the best climber, based on points earned on categorized climbs.
• Why Polka Dots?: A chocolate sponsor (Chocolat Poulain) used red polka dots in its branding.
• Fun Fact: Climbs are categorized by difficulty, with more points available on the hardest ones.

White Jersey (Maillot Blanc) – Best Young Rider

• Introduced: 1975 (discontinued in 1989, revived in 2000)
• Significance: Awarded to the best rider under 25 in the General Classification.
• Why White?: It represents youth and potential—a clean slate.
• Fun Fact: Many eventual Tour winners started out by winning the white jersey early in their careers.

And while history, tradition, and pure athletic prowess are the center points of this epic endurance event, let’s not forget the calories. It takes a fair amount of them to fuel such continued exertion. As an amateur competitive cyclist, I can tell you that certain foods are more suited to sustaining the energy needed to climb the Alps. Even better, I discovered I can support caloric intake for an endurance ride, pulling only from Smith Design client projects.

Here’s how I would set my menu:

Night before:

While the science of “carb-loading” has shifted, a pasta meal is still a great idea, as long as it’s a healthy balance of macronutrients. I’d choose Buitoni Chicken Parmesan Ravioli.

Breakfast:

Cream of Wheat will top off your carbs in the morning. I like to stir in some Skippy Creamy Protein Peanut Butter for extra satiation.

On the Bike:

The pros have support cars and domestiques to fetch their snacks, but amateurs? We need to cram our pockets full of goodies. Single-serve packets are easily stashed in cycling jerseys, and small bites are best for snacking on the go. I’d reach for:

Skippy P.B. Bites, Planters Trail Mix, and Entenmann’s Big Chunk cookies.

Electrolytes in your water bottle are an absolute must. Did you know you can make your own by combining a little Maple Grove Farms Maple Syrup and pinch of salt?

After it’s all over, don’t forget to show your bike some love. Towel it off using Bona’s All Purpose Cleaner (Lavender scent, of course) and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

The Tour de France airs from Saturday, July 5^th, through Sunday, July 27^th, and the Tour de Femmes airs from July 26th to August 3rd.