00:00Famous names, famous bends, famous stories. The mountains have always forged the legend
00:14of the Tour de France. And every year the polka dot jersey rewards the rider who has
00:20conquered the climbs. While the mountains classification has existed since 1933, the
00:26famous red and white jersey only appeared in 1975, so this year it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
00:43The first man to wear it was Job Zuttermalk and it's now one of his most prized possessions.
00:52This is the first polka dot jersey, the first one in history, the first in history, yes.
01:04We didn't know the jersey back then, it was brand new, but over time it has become very
01:08popular.
01:12Well several riders helped to grow the popularity of the polka dot jersey, notably Lucien Van Impe.
01:17The Belgian was the first man to take it home in 1975, before winning the Tour in 76. He
01:23took a total of six victories in the mountains classification between 71 and 83.
01:30Only one man has more polka dot jerseys in his collection, Richard Verhank, who won it seven
01:35times between 94 and 04. His climbing exploits made him one of the most popular riders in
01:41the peloton.
01:48A rider who goes after the polka dot jersey is a rider who isn't afraid of putting in
01:49big efforts, who's ready to give their all. The polka dot jersey always excited me more
01:54than the yellow jersey.
01:58Other French riders have honoured the polka dot jersey in recent years, fighting to bring
02:03it to the finish line in Paris. It was won by Warren Barguil in 2017, Julian Alaphilippe
02:10in 2018 and Romain Bardet in 2019, a French triple header.
02:18It also represents a lot for the fans. This is a rider you're going to see all day long
02:23because a rider who wants the polka dot jersey has to be up at the front, fighting for those
02:28precious points.
02:31The mountains also play a defining role in the GC contest, so the winner of the Tour de
02:37France often ends up with polka dots as well. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard have both
02:42doubled up in recent years. The polka dot jersey is 50 years old, but it remains as striking
02:48and as popular as ever.
