What is the name of the jersey awarded to the best climber in the Tour de France?

The jersey awarded to the best climber in the Tour de France is the polka dot jersey.

It identifies the leader of the mountains classification, a competition based on points earned by reaching designated summits first. Climbs are ranked from category 4, the least difficult, through category 1 and hors catégorie, the toughest classification. The rider leading this points competition is also called the King of the Mountains.

The mountains classification began in 1933, when Vicente Trueba became its first winner. However, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975. Its white fabric and red dots came from Chocolat Poulain, the jersey’s sponsor at the time; the pattern was chosen to match the company’s chocolate-bar packaging.

A common mix-up is confusing it with the yellow jersey, which belongs to the overall race leader, or the green jersey, awarded for the points classification, usually associated with sprinting. The polka dot jersey rewards climbing performance, not total race time.