Leader's Jerseys
The Nature Valley Grand Prix has winners at every race, but it also has competitions that last for the entire five days. Here’s how to spot the leaders:
Yellow Jersey: Nature Valley GP Overall Leader
Hours. Minutes. Seconds. It’s all about time. We add up each rider’s time for each day and throw in a few time bonuses. The rider with the lowest total time is the Nature Valley Grand Prix leader.
Black Jersey: Wheaties FUEL Sprint Competition
The sprint competition creates several mini-races inside the race. We place sprint lines throughout the stages and give points to the first riders across those lines. The rider with the most points receives the black sprint leader’s jersey.
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Polka Dot Jersey: Sports Beans King/Queen of the Hills
The brutal climbs in some stages of the Nature Valley Grand Prix will separate the contenders from the pretenders. Riders earn points by being the first across the line on designated hills. The top hill climbers will be recognized with polka dot jersey.
Red Jersey: Freewheel Bike Most Aggressive Rider
This is the rider who has done the most to animate the race each day. Attacking, bridging, chasing, sprinting, this rider always seems to stirring things up at the center of the action.
White Jersey: TRIA Orthopaedic Center Best Young Rider
Young riders are the future of the sport. The best placed man under age 23 and the best placed woman under age 26 will receive a white jersey.
Green Jersey: Nature Valley Top Amateurs
Professionals and elite amateurs participate in the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The top amateur man and woman will be recognized with a green jersey.
Carla Swart Sportsmanship Award
This award memorializes 2008 Collegiate All Star Carla Swart, who was killed in a traffic accident in January 2011 while training for competition with her team, HTC Highroad – the top women’s team in the world. This special jersey recognizes the woman rider who has sacrificed her own personal chances for the good of the team leader. These riders drive the pace, disrupt dangerous breakaways and protect their leader by forcing other teams to react. They burn all of their energy before they ever see the finish line and place far down in the final standings. They are truly the unsung heroes of the sport. The woman who has sacrificed the most for her team leader will be selected by vote of the athletes themselves following the Menomonie Road Race and will receive a special jersey and a pre-race call up at the Stillwater Criterium.
Women’s Prestige Cycling Series – The Nature Valley Grand Prix is the third event of a North American series that’s open only to women. The Series leaders will be wearing their jerseys during the race.
National Racing Calendar - The National Racing Calendar is a year-long series organized by USA Cycling. Riders and teams try to accumulate points at every NRC race. The final tally determines the best professional bicycle racing riders and teams in the country.