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List of Australian cyclists who have led the Tour de France general classification

The 2004 design of the yellow jersey for the leader of the general classification, as worn by Robbie McEwen on Stage 3 as leader of the general classification

Since the establishment of the competition in 1903, eight Australians have led the general classification in the Tour de France at the end of a stage during one of the 102 Tours de France. One of the three Grand Tours of professional stage road cycling,[1][2] the Tour de France is the most famous road cycling event in the world, and is held annually in the month of July.[3] Although all riders compete together, the winners of the Tour are divided into classifications, each best known by the coloured jersey that is worn by the leader of it; the general classification (GC), represented by the yellow jersey (French: maillot jaune), is for the overall leader in terms of the lowest time.[4][5] The other individual classifications in the Tour de France are the points classification, also known as the sprinters' classification (green jersey), the mountains classification (polka dot jersey), and the young rider classification (white jersey).[1][4]

In the 110 editions of the Tour de France to 2023, only eight Australian riders have worn the yellow jersey.[6] The first was Phil Anderson, who in 1981 became the first ever non-European to lead the general classification at the Tour de France when he wore the yellow jersey on Stage 7 on 1 July.[7] Of the eight Australians to wear it to date, four are considered to be "general classification riders" (that is, riders who are aiming to win the GC, as opposed to competing in another classification or riding as a domestique): Anderson in 1981 and 1982, Cadel Evans in 2008, 2010 and 2011, Simon Gerrans in 2013 and Jai Hindley in 2023.[8][9] Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen are sprint specialists, and were successful in the points classification competition in the years when they also wore the yellow jersey; as a result of winning stages early in the race, they received time bonuses which gave them the leadership of the GC for a small number of days early in the Tour.[10] Brad McGee was the reigning world champion in the 4000 m individual pursuit when he won the opening prologue time trial, which was similar in length, in 2003.[11][12] Simon Gerrans gained his Yellow Jersey after Orica–GreenEDGE's victory in the Stage 4 team time trial around Nice on 2 July 2013.[13] Rohan Dennis, while a former hour record holder, was riding the Tour de France in support of Tejay van Garderen when he won the Stage 1 individual time trial in Utrecht on 4 July 2015, thus becoming the first leader of the general classification for the 2015 Tour de France.[14]

The eight Australians have spent a total of 32 stages in the yellow jersey out of the 2,126 total in the 102 editions of the Tour de France, as at the end of Stage 1 of the 2015 Tour.[15][16]

  1. ^ a b Coyle, Daniel (2005). Tour de Force. London: CollinsWillow. pp. 316–321. ISBN 0-00-720922-3.
  2. ^ "17 teams issue challenge over organizing of events". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  3. ^ Kita, Joe (2008). "Tour de France". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  4. ^ a b "A-Z of Le Tour". BBC. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  5. ^ Guinness, Rupert (15 July 2008). "Evans in yellow as Piepoli wins". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  6. ^ de Naranja, Juan (ed.) (2008). "Tour de France Race Information: Race Leaders". CyclingFever. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  7. ^ Daffey, Paul (8 July 2006). "Phil Anderson's yellow jersey, 1981". The Age. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  8. ^ Craddock, Steve (18 June 2008). "The Tour de France". AMB Côte d'Azur. Retrieved 15 July 2008. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Evans' tour of discovery". The Age. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  10. ^ Keaten, Jamey (12 July 2007). "Tour de France: Sprinter's days wearing yellow jersey are numbered as race moves closer to the Alps". Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  11. ^ de Naranja, Juan, ed. (2008). "Tour de France Rider Statistics: Bradley McGee". CyclingFever. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  12. ^ Abt, Samuel (6 July 2003). "Specialist Captures Tour's Prologue in Paris". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  13. ^ Guinness, Rupert (4 July 2013). "The rise and rise of the rookie to the yellow jersey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  14. ^ Tyers, Alan (4 July 2015). "Tour de France 2015, stage one - live: Rohan Dennis claims sensational win". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  15. ^ de Naranja, Juan, ed. (2008). "Tour de France Race Information: Race Leaders". CyclingFever. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  16. ^ Guinness, Rupert (16 July 2008). "True tears of joy as brave Cadel claims first yellow jersey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 July 2008.

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