How to Meet Tour de France Clothing Regulations

General clothing regulations for the Tour de France include a jersey with sleeves and a pair of shorts which do not extend below the knees. Beyond that, the particulars of each riders' clothing varies according to the team they belong to, their position on the leader board and the regulations defined by the International Cyclists Union (UCI). All of your clothing must meet regulations when you compete in the Tour de France

Instructions

    • 1

      Wear specialized jerseys when designated by the Tour de France. These include the famous yellow jersey (used to denote the overall time leader), the green jersey (used to denote the overall points leader), the red polka-dot jersey (used to denote the best climber) and the white jersey (to denote the best young cyclist). Specialized leader jerseys are to be worn at all times during the competition, for however long they are yours to wear.

    • 2

      Meet UCI standards for team clothing (see Resources below). Each team must submit articles of clothing to the UCI for inspection and may not deviate from them once the clothing meets approval. This is done to ensure that the clothing meets all basic standards, as well as to keep two separate teams from donning uniforms that are too similar.

    • 3

      Refrain from wearing clothing that might be confused with the Tour de France leader jerseys (yellow, white, polka dot red and green). This will ensure judges can easily discern which rider is which.

    • 4

      Wear the same team uniform throughout the calendar year. UCI regulations stipulate that every team's uniform must be the same throughout a given year, with minor changes made only if sponsorship changes and logos need to be removed.

    • 5

      Keep your competing number visible at all times. Regulations state that the competitors' numbers cannot be obscured by any type of clothing, regardless of the weather. Slickers and rain gear must therefore be transparent, so that the numbers can still be seen.

    • 6

      Rank the numbers on your team from one to nine. The team leader (the one most likely to win the race) wears number one, with the other riders wearing descending numbers based on their overall skill ranking. These numbers must match the numbers placed on the riders' bikes, which will help prevent bikes from being swapped out illegally.

    • 7

      Strip away any clothing deemed non-essential. Though some cyclists may wish to wear clothing which cuts down on their air resistance, the UCI forbids the use of any "non-essential" clothes for Tour de France riders. Beyond the jersey, helmet, shorts and shoes (and specified protection from inclement weather), nothing else is usually permitted.