While Lance Armstrong has won more Tours de France than any other rider, he has not come close to the record number of stages wearing the yellow jersey, but if Armstrong does choose to defend the maillot jaune all the way to Paris he will pass Bernard Hinault's record of 79 days in yellow.
Five-time Tour winner Eddy Merckx collected 96 Tour leader jerseys during his career. Merckx made a habit of taking the lead early and defending it all the way to Paris, while Armstrong has been happy to loan it out for a few days before regaining it in the mountains. During Merckx' era the Tour also still had double stages, with two races in one day, increasing the number of yellow jerseys up for grabs.
