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@Chopsicle
here's some details on the armband origin
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1409/history-of-the-tour-de-france-jerseys
The inauguration of the yellow jersey was a gradual and partly contentious process (this is cycling, after all) that Tour historian Barry Boyce has spent a lot of time researching.
‘In the early days of the Tour, there were much smaller pelotons than those you get today, so the leader just wore a green armband,’ he says. ‘But as the popularity of the Tour increased, journalists and riders complained of not being able to indentify the race leader on the road. Belgian Philippe Thys was said to have laid claim to wearing a yellow jersey when he was leading the race in 1913'
And here are some great images of the winner of the first (1903) winner, and the bike and components he would have been using;
https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/1899-bicyclette-maurice-garin/
Couple of armbands in some of the images, but I'm now doubting the idea I posted above that teams & nationalities were signified by pinned on armbands in a race ...I'd definitely seen images previously, but perhaps these were national champion or winners bands awarded on the podium, and not actually raced in. ...all part of some good myth and mystery!