If you\u2019ve been watching the 2025 Tour de France and wondering why Tadej Pogacar isn\u2019t in his regular UAE Team Emirates kit, you\u2019re not alone. Casual fans and new viewers might be puzzled by the white jersey with those iconic rainbow bands \u2014 but in the world of cycling, that\u2019s the sport\u2019s most prestigious garment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s the story behind Pogacar\u2019s rainbow stripes? Let\u2019s explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rainbow jersey is awarded to the reigning UCI World Road Race Champion<\/strong>. It\u2019s one of cycling\u2019s most cherished honours, only worn by the rider who wins the annual one-day World Championships, a single race held every autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The design is simple but iconic: a white base with five horizontal bands across the chest representing the five continents \u2014 blue, red, black, yellow, and green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whoever wins that title has the right to wear the rainbow jersey in all road races (except for time trials) until the next World Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tadej Pogacar claimed his rainbow stripes at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships<\/strong> in Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland. In a dramatic solo attack on the final climb, Pogacar distanced the likes of Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel to take the win \u2014 his first World Championship title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was one of the most dominant performances of his career and cemented his place among the sport\u2019s greats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Per tradition and UCI regulations, a reigning World Champion wears the rainbow jersey in all road races \u2014 including Grand Tours \u2014 during their championship year. So even though Pogacar rides for UAE Team Emirates<\/strong>, he swaps the team\u2019s standard kit for his personalized World Champion\u2019s jersey throughout the 2025 Tour de France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a rare and prestigious sight: only a handful of riders in history have lined up for the Tour wearing the rainbow stripes, and even fewer have challenged for yellow while doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good question \u2014 and here\u2019s the rule: if Pogacar takes over the race leader\u2019s maillot jaune (yellow jersey)<\/strong>, he must wear that instead. The yellow jersey supersedes all others in the Tour de France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if Pogacar claims yellow on a mountain stage or time trial, you\u2019ll see him swap his rainbow jersey for the Tour\u2019s famous leader\u2019s jersey until or unless he loses it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rainbow stripes aren\u2019t just for show \u2014 they carry serious weight in the peloton. Riders wearing it are highly respected, and their every move is closely marked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wearing the rainbow jersey in the Tour de France adds a layer of expectation and pressure. The last rider to win both the World Championships and the Tour de France while wearing the rainbow jersey in the same year? That was Greg LeMond in 1990<\/strong> \u2014 a feat Pogacar is keen to emulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, it\u2019s Pogacar\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tadej Pogacar\u2019s rainbow jersey isn\u2019t just a nod to his immense talent \u2014 it\u2019s a badge of honour he earned in Z\u00fcrich last year, and a reminder of cycling\u2019s rich history. As he battles for yellow over the next three weeks, he carries not only the hopes of UAE Team Emirates but also the prestige of the World Champion\u2019s stripes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So next time you spot him in the bunch, those rainbow bands mean one thing: you\u2019re watching the reigning world champion in action.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve been watching the 2025 Tour de France and wondering why Tadej Pogacar isn\u2019t in his regular UAE Team Emirates kit, you\u2019re not alone. Casual fans and new viewers might be puzzled by the white jersey with those iconic rainbow bands \u2014 but in the world of cycling, that\u2019s the sport\u2019s most prestigious garment….<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tour-de-france-2025"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":32,"label":"Tour de France 2025"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Evan Pembroke","author_link":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/author\/evan-pembroke\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":32,"name":"Tour de France 2025","slug":"tour-de-france-2025","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":32,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Full battle coverage of the Tour de France 2025, Stage guides, live results & route maps. Track every climb, sprint, and yellow jersey battle.","parent":0,"count":76,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":32,"category_count":76,"category_description":"Full battle coverage of the Tour de France 2025, Stage guides, live results & route maps. 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\n\n\n\nHow Did Tadej Pogacar Win It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy Is He Wearing It at the Tour de France?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udfe1 Can He Wear Yellow and the Rainbow Together?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Significance of the Rainbow Jersey in the Peloton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udcca Fun Fact: Famous Tour de France Rainbow Jersey Wearers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n