The 5km rule returns at the Tour de France, but bonus second sprints are out

UAE Team Emirates team's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey (C) cycles ahead of Team Visma - Lease a Bike team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard (2nd L), Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team's Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic and Soudal Quick-Step team's Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel wearing the best young rider's white jersey (rear) in the ascent of Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary) during the 11th stage of the 111th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 211 km between Évaux-les-Bains and Le Lioran, in the Massif Central mountains of central France, on July 10, 2024. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images).

The rules and regulations of the Tour de France are a fairly dry subject but they're essential to the function of the biggest race in the world, from the time cut calculations to how the prize money is allocated, and, of course, the jerseys and competitions for which the 184 riders are battling.

There are more rules beyond those, however, with some updated for this year's Tour, which could end up having a major effect on the race outcome.