<P> There are usually between 20 and 22 teams , with eight riders in each . All of the stages are timed to the finish ; the riders ' times are compounded with their previous stage times . The rider with the lowest cumulative finishing times is the leader of the race and wears the yellow jersey . While the general classification garners the most attention , there are other contests held within the Tour : the points classification for the sprinters , the mountains classification for the climbers , young rider classification for riders under the age of 26 , and the team classification for the fastest teams . Achieving a stage win also provides prestige , often accomplished by a team 's cycling sprinter specialist . </P>
who has the yellow jersey tour de france
The rider with the lowest cumulative finishing times