What is the rainbow jersey?
The rainbow jersey — maillot arc-en-ciel — is the white jersey with five coloured bands worn by the reigning UCI world champion. Introduced in 1927, it is one of the few honours in sport that is worn rather than displayed: the champion races in it for a full year, and everyone in the peloton can see the title.[1] [2]
What are the rules for wearing it?
Strict ones. The jersey may be worn only in the discipline and event type in which the title was won — a road race champion wears it in road races but not in a time trial, a track champion only in that track event — and only until the next world championships. After that, the former champion wears rainbow bands on the collar and cuffs of their team jersey for the rest of their career in that discipline, a permanent marker of the title.[1] [3]
Where is it won?
At the UCI World Championships in each discipline: road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX, gravel and para-cycling. Kigali 2025 staged the first road worlds held in Africa, where Tadej Pogačar retained the men's title and Canada's Magdeleine Vallières won the women's road race; Montréal hosts in September 2026.[2] [4]
Why does it matter?
Because it makes a world title continuously visible for a year of racing, and because cycling's other great prizes — the Tour de France, the Giro, the Vuelta — belong to race organisers, while the rainbow jersey belongs to the governing body. It is the sport's one federation-awarded world championship marker.[1] [2]
References
- UCI — Regulations. Accessed August 2026.
- UCI — World Championships. Accessed August 2026.
- Cyclingnews — the rainbow jersey and its rules. Accessed August 2026.
- UCI — 2025 Road World Championships, Kigali. Accessed August 2026.