The cyclist who holds the record for the most days in the Tour de France yellow jersey is Eddy Merckx.
Merckx wore the maillot jaune for 96 days, more than any other rider. The yellow jersey identifies the leader of the general classification, which is calculated by adding riders’ stage times throughout the race. It is awarded after each stage, so the record measures days spent leading the overall race rather than Tour victories.
The Belgian dominated the Tour in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning five editions: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974. His 1969 victory was especially notable because he won the general, points and mountains classifications in the same Tour—the first rider to achieve that combination.
The jersey itself was introduced in 1919, long after the race began in 1903. Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Chris Froome are among the riders closest to Merckx’s record. A frequent mistake is confusing most days in yellow with most Tour wins; those are separate records, and Merckx shares the five-win record with three other champions.