Tour de France: Cincinnati Bengals 2022 edition

Polka-dot Jersey (le Maillot à Pois aka King of the Mountains)

Last year’s winner: D.J. Reader

This year’s winner: Jackson Carman

The Polka-dot Jersey is awarded to the rider who earns the most points in the King of the Mountains category. Points are earned by going over designated climbs throughout different stages. How many points are awarded for each climb is up to the race’s organizers. And yes, the Polka-dot, Yellow, and White jersey winner can be the same person.

While the Polka-dot jersey goes to a lighter rider, King of the Mountains in football parlance envokes images of a giant man. Therefore, this will be awarded to one of the big guys up front. Last year’s winner was D.J. Reader. This year’s winner is Jackson Carman.

Carman is a quiet winner of the offseason on the field. He went from not being able to win the right guard spot outright last year to the leader in the clubhouse for the left guard position. He is in a more advantageous situation by being on the left side of the offensive line, where he spent the entirety of his career at Clemson while playing left tackle.

Carman stands at 6’5’’, 330 pounds. He is a mountain of a man who is the heaviest of all the Bengals offensive linemen.

Carman being the choice for the K.O.M. Jersey is with respect to his potential as much as it is about his physical stature. The left guard position is the only question mark along the offensive line. Hopefully, Carman can win the competition, given his second-round draft status.