List of Australians who have led the Tour de France general classification

This is a list of Australians who have led the Tour de France general classification at the end of a stage during one of the 95 Tours de France since the establishment of the competition in 1903. One of the three Grand Tours of professional stage cycling,cite book|last=Coyle|first=Daniel|title=Tour de Force|publisher=CollinsWillow|location=London|date=2005|pages=pp. 316—321|isbn=0 00 720922 3] [cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/15/sports/CYCLE.php|title=17 teams issue challenge over organizing of events|author=Associated Press|date=2008-07-15|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-07-16] the Tour de France is the most famous road cycling event in the world, and is held annually in the month of July. [cite web|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579397/tour_de_france.html|title=Tour de France|last=Kita|first=Joe|date=2008|publisher=Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia |accessdate=2008-07-15] 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 "maillot jaune" (yellow jersey), is for the overall leader in terms of the lowest time.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/sport/2000/tour_de_france/800879.stm|title=A-Z of Le Tour|date=2008-06-28|work=British Broadcasting Company|accessdate=2008-07-15] [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tourdefrance/cadels-tour-de-france-coup--a-hrefhttpmediafairfaxcomaurid39571bvideoba--a-hrefhttpblogssmhcomausportarchivestour-de-francebblogba/2008/07/15/1215887551771.html|title=Evans in yellow as Piepoli wins|last=Guinness|first=Rupert|date=2008-07-15|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2008-07-15] 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).

In the 95 editions of the Tour de France to 2008, only five Australian riders have worn the "maillot jaune". [cite web|url=http://tour.cyclingfever.com/race.html?_pg=&_
ed.)|date=2008|publisher=CyclingFever|accessdate=2008-07-15] 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 July 1. [cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/phil-andersons-yellow-jersey-1981/2006/07/07/1152240490297.html|title=Phil Anderson's yellow jersey, 1981|last=Daffey|first=Paul|date=2006-07-08|work=The Age|accessdate=2008-07-15] Of the five Australians to wear it to date, only two 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 and Cadel Evans in 2008. [cite news|url=http://www.amb-cotedazur.com/excursions-the-tour-de-france.html|title=The Tour de France |last=Craddock|first=Steve|date=2008-06-18|work=AMB Cote d'Azur|accessdate=2008-07-15] [cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/evans-tour-of-discovery/2005/07/02/1119724845594.html|title=Evans' tour of discovery|date=2005-07-03|work=The Age|accessdate=2008-07-15] 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 lead in the GC for a small number of days early in the Tour. [cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07193/801147-139.stm|title=Tour de France: Sprinter's days wearing yellow jersey are numbered as race moves closer to the Alps|last=Keaten|first=Jamey|date=2007-07-12|work=Post-Gazette|accessdate=2008-07-15] Brad McGee, the other Australian to have led the general classification, 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.cite web|url=http://tour.cyclingfever.com/rider.html?sporter_id=277|title=Tour de France Rider Statistics: Bradley McGee|last=de Naranja|first=Juan (ed.)|date=2008|publisher=CyclingFever|accessdate=2008-07-15] [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E7D6163DF935A35754C0A9659C8B63|title=Specialist Captures Tour's Prologue in Paris|last=Abt|first=Samuel|date=2003-07-06|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-07-16]

The five Australians have spent a total of 27 stages in the "maillot jaune" out of the 2,037 total (0.013%) in the 95 editions of the Tour de France, as of July 28, 2008. [cite web|url=http://tour.cyclingfever.com/race.html?_pg=&_
] [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tourdefrance/cadels-unforgettable-24-hours--a-hrefhttpblogssmhcomausportarchivestour-de-francebblogba/2008/07/15/1215887630447.html|title=True tears of joy as brave Cadel claims first yellow jersey|last=Guinness|first=Rupert |date=2008-07-16|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2008-07-16]

List

:"Obtained" refers to the date and stage where the rider secured the lead of the general classification at the finish; the rider would first wear the yellow jersey in the stage after, where he would start the day as leader. "Relinquished" refers to the date and stage where the rider lost the lead, and therefore was not wearing the yellow jersey the following stage. As of July 28, 2008."

ee also

*Yellow jersey statistics

Notes

:A. : This was the first time a non-European cyclist wore the "maillot jaune".:B. : Finished first in the young rider classification at the completion of the Tour.:C. note label|SO9899|C|anote label|SO9899|C|b: Finished second in the points classification at the completion of the Tour.:D. : "P" refers to the prologue event, most commonly an individual time trial (as it was in 2003). The prologue is not considered to be a numbered stage of the Tour de France, and is followed the next day by Stage "1"; therefore, the prologue is occasionally also designated as Stage "0".:E. : Finished first in the points classification at the completion of the Tour.

References

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/|title=Tour de France Official Website|accessdate=2008-07-15
*cite web|url=http://sportal.com.au/tour-de-france-aussiesontour|title=Aussies on Tour|work=Sportal|accessdate=2008-07-15