Yellow and the Tour

Nowadays, when one thinks of the Tour de France, its iconic symbol — the yellow jersey — often comes to mind. You cannot have one without the other. Throughout its decades of existence, the maillot jaune has been both loved and hated, worshipped and despised.

Surprisingly, this unbreakable link between the two wasn't part of the race's beginning. The first Tour, the creation of L'Auto editor Henri Desgrange, took place in 1903. The initial appearance of the yellow jersey wasn't until after the start of the 1919 contest.

While legendary in status, it began as a simple idea. Those running the Tour encountered difficulty when it came to identifying participants, while also surmising that the public would be even more clueless as to who's who in the fast-paced peloton.

The story goes that Peugeot team boss Alphonse Bauge suggested that the race leader wear a different colored jersey. Desgrange quickly embraced the proposal, but asked, what color should it be? It is said that Bauge — aware of turning this into a big publicity coup — declared that the jersey should be the same color as the pages of Desgrange's newspaper. Which were yellow.

"The Yellow Jersey" by Peter Cossins.

All this is told in "The Yellow Jersey" (Yellow Jersey Press, 2019) by journalist Peter Cossins. An excellent book, it captured the Telegraph (UK) Sports Cycling Book of the Year in 2020.

Early on, the significance of this special jersey was barely noticeable. Even L'Auto hardly mentioned it. The first wearer of the yellow jersey, Frenchman Eugene Christophe, was embarrassed to put it on. He was mocked by his fellow racers and spectators. Obviously, over time, what was considered an afterthought became the holy grail of cycling.

Its mere presence produces an impact — on so many levels — to this very day. Chapter by chapter, the author explains "the hold" the yellow jersey has on the Tour and, indeed, the whole country of France and beyond. Topics among the book's 320 pages include "All About Yellow, The Only Color That Matters," "The Motivating Maillot, This Jersey Has Special Powers," "The Maddening Maillot, Blinded By The Light," and "Tarnishing The Jersey, Skeletons In The Closet."

From the book, this quote from Thomas Voeckler, a twenty-time wearer of the yellow jersey, helps put things into perspective. "It's funny to think that the yellow jersey is not really a victory, it's something much more important than that. It's a symbol, highlighting what this incredible event is all about. The Tour is part of the country's history. After the two world wars, it offered the French people a way of escaping thoughts of those great conflicts and the devastation they caused. It still has that ability to transform. When you're on the Tour, everyone smiles all the time, everyone is happy. It's a good moment for the country, something that's quite magical."

The real and mystical powers of this highly sought-after garment are presented by Cossins with great craftsmanship, aided by countless illustrations. After reading it, one gets a true understanding — even those unfamiliar with the world of cycling — about the excitement generated by one eternal question: "Did you see the yellow jersey?"

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Taking a holiday break, so my next blog posting will be on Friday, January 5, 2024. At that time, I will review my final numbers for the 2023 season and look ahead to the new year. Also, there's a big surprise coming — and it involves cobbles and Belgium. Stay tuned and stay safe!)