In the Tour de France team classification, the times of each team’s three best riders count toward its stage total.
After every stage, officials add the finishing times of the three fastest riders from each team. Those daily totals are accumulated through the race, and the team with the lowest combined time leads the classification. Time bonuses and penalties are ignored in the standard calculation, making this a measure of collective consistency rather than stage victories.
A special rule applies to team time trials. In that format, the team’s time is generally based on its fifth rider across the finish line, or on the last rider if fewer than five teammates remain. A team with fewer than three riders left is removed from the classification because it can no longer supply the required scoring trio.
The team classification is separate from the individual general classification. A team may win it without having the overall champion, because strong performances by several riders can outweigh one star’s result. Team standings have existed since the Tour’s early history, though their calculation rules have evolved.