How do the teams work?
Each team taking part in The Tour of Britain is made up of six cyclists. Generally each team will have a leader for whom all the riders will work for to place as high as possible on the general classification. The teams will also have a sprinter, a mountain climber and the rest will form the role of domestique.
A domestique is a rider whose sole aim is to help their team leaders. Their role includes sheltering their leaders from the wind, fetching food and drink, to making sure their men are in the best possible position during the race, particularly important when approaching the finish. They also have to be ready to give up their bike if one of their leaders suffers a mechanical problem, such as a puncture. Domestiques do not share the glory of their team leaders, but they are vital to any team wanting to win to wear the yellow jersey.
On each stage, the domestiques will work to protect the team leader and ensure their leader gets to the line first. If their leader does acquire the leader's or yellow jersey, it is their role to make sure the leader keeps the jersey too.
When it comes to the sprinters, the entire team, including the team leader, will work together to get the sprinter to the finish line first.
Yellow Jersey
The Yellow Jersey is awarded to the rider who is leading the race, particularly in multi-stage races and The Tour of Britain. It allows the rider who was in the overall lead at the end of the previous day to be easily identified.
Points Jersey
The Prostate Cancer Charity 'Points Jersey' is awarded to the rider who has accumulated points for being the highest placed rider each day over the course of the entire race.
Polka Dot Jersey
The 'Polka Dot Jersey', or King of The Mountain Jersey as it is sometimes referred to, is awarded to the best climber in the race. On each stage there are usually between three and four steep climbs, graded by degree of difficulty, and the riders compete to accumulate points by being the first to reach each summit.
Sprint Jersey
On each stage of the race there are three sprints built into the route and whoever wins these sprints acquires points to lay claim to wear the red white and blue 'Sprint Jersey'.
