Complete Guide to the Tour de France: Race Format, Four Jerseys, and a Viewing Guide for Taiwanese Fans

Every July, all of France turns into an open-air arena. The Tour de France (TdF) is not just a sporting event—it is a cultural celebration. Villages along the route are decorated with banners, and spectators by the roadside hold up yellow strips, waiting for riders to flash past at speeds exceeding 50 km/h. For cycling enthusiasts in Taiwan, staying up late to watch the broadcast is an annual July ritual. Are you ready this year?

Basic Race Structure

The Tour de France typically starts on the first Saturday of July, lasts three weeks, covers approximately 3,300–3,500 kilometers, and is divided into 21 stages and 2 rest days. The stage types are diverse, covering different terrains and specialty demands:

The rider with the lowest cumulative time wins the general classification. After 21 stages, the final sprint takes place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, with an atmosphere akin to a carnival.

The Meaning of the Four Leader Jerseys

One of the hallmarks of the Tour de France is the different colored jerseys, each representing a different competitive dimension:

• Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune): Worn by the leader of the general classification, the highest honor of the Tour. As long as you have the shortest cumulative time after each stage, you are eligible to wear the yellow jersey in the next stage.
• Green Jersey (Maillot Vert): Worn by the leader of the points classification, typically contested by professional sprinters. Points are awarded at the final sprint of each stage and at intermediate sprints.
• Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot à Pois): Worn by the leader of the King of the Mountains (KOM) classification, a symbol of climbing specialists. The harder the climb, the more points are awarded, and the first rider to reach the summit scores.
• White Jersey (Maillot Blanc): Worn by the leader of the general classification among riders aged 26 and under. In recent years, many young stars have worn it, highlighting a generational shift.

Viewing Guide for Taiwanese Fans

Tour de France stages typically finish between 2 PM and 5 PM European time, which corresponds to 8 PM to 1 AM Taiwan time. Accounting for daylight saving time (CEST = UTC+2), the conversion to Taiwan (UTC+8) requires subtracting 6 hours.

Recommended Live Streaming Resources:

• GCN+ (Global Cycling Network Plus): Offers the most complete English-language live coverage and pre-race analysis, with a monthly fee of approximately US$9.99. Subscriptions are available in Taiwan.
• Eurosport / Discovery+: Supports Traditional Chinese subtitles in some regions and also offers full replays after the race.
• FloBikes: Primarily focused on the North American market, with detailed technical analysis programs.
• Official YouTube Channel (letour): Provides daily highlight clips, free to watch.

Tips for Following the Race:

1. Download the Official Tour de France App to track riders’ GPS positions and time gaps in real time
2. Follow the @LeTour Twitter/X account for minute-by-minute updates on time gaps during the race
3. If you cannot stay up all night, set an alarm to watch the final 30 kilometers of a stage, which is usually the most exciting decisive moment
4. Using a VPN with a Eurosport subscription can provide higher-quality streaming

Stage Types Especially Recommended for Taiwanese Fans

For Taiwanese riders who love climbing, mountain stages are the most worth staying up to watch. In particular, the key stages through the Alps or the Pyrenees—legendary climbs such as Galibier, Tourmalet, and Izoard—are places where heroes have been made throughout history.

Sprint fans, on the other hand, can look forward to the final stage on the Champs-Élysées, as well as stages passing through flat cities, to watch exciting battles among sprint specialists like Jasper Philipsen and Caleb Ewan.

Practical Advice: How to Appreciate the Tour de France More Deeply

• Before the race, watch GCN’s stage preview videos to understand the elevation profiles and key climb data
• Subscribe to daily coverage from Velo News or Cycling Weekly
• Use ProCyclingStats.com to look up historical data and estimated rider power outputs
• Create your own “riders to follow” list, tracking 3–5 riders in depth—it is more enjoyable than watching broadly

Conclusion

The appeal of the Tour de France lies not only in the racing itself, but in how it showcases humanity’s challenge to its limits—over 50,000 meters of cumulative climbing in three weeks, day-after-day high-intensity output, and the perfect combination of strategy and strength. For Taiwanese cycling fans, being able to witness such an event with our own eyes (even through a screen) is the most precious summer gift of the year. Get your coffee ready—this July, let’s follow the race together!

Related Reading

• Complete Tour de France Viewing Guide: Route, Teams, Rules, and Highlights
• Tour de France Beginner’s Guide: Stage Format and Points Calculation Fully Explained
• In-Depth Tour de France Tactical Analysis: The Chess Game for the Yellow Jersey
• Complete Guide to the Tour de Taiwan: Course Analysis and Review of Past Champions