The Tour de France Young Rider classification is a secondary competition after the General Classification, similar to the Points Classification and Climber’s Classification. It’s often referred to as the white jersey (maillot blanc) or youth classification.
It was first introduced in 1975 and its criteria changed over the years. From 1975 to 1983, it was for riders who had been a professional for three years or lesser. From 1983 to 1986, it was for riders who were competing in their first Tour de France.
From 1987 onwards, the Young Rider classification is for riders aged below 26 on 1 January for the year’s Tour. The rider (aged 26 and below) who has the least cumulative time will wear the white jersey from Stage 2 to 21.
Multiple Young Rider Classification winners
Five riders won more than one Young Rider Classification. Their wins happened in successive years except for Nairo Quintana.
- Andy Schleck (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Jan Ulrich (1996, 1997, 1998)
- Tadej Pogačar (2020, 2021)
- Nairo Quintana (2013, 2015)
- Marco Pantani (1994, 1995)
There are seven years where the same rider won both the Young Rider and General Classification. The riders who won both classifications were all very talented, as the average age of the General Classification winner is 28.
- Tadej Pogačar (2020, 2021)
- Egan Bernal (2019)
- Andy Schleck (2010)
- Alberto Contador (2007)
- Jan Ulrich (1997)
- Laurent Fignon (1983)
Most Young Rider Classification wins by nationality
French riders are the most successful in the Young Rider Classification with 8 wins. The last win was by Pierre Latour in 2018.
Only 14 nationalities have won the Climber’s Classification in 47 editions since 1975.
Wins | Country | Last winner | Year |
---|---|---|---|
8 | France | Pierre Latour | 2018 |
5 | Colombia | Egan Bernal | 2019 |
5 | Italy | Damiano Cunego | 2006 |
5 | Netherlands | Eddy Bouwmans | 1992 |
5 | Spain | Alberto Contador | 2007 |
4 | Germany | Jan Ullrich | 1998 |
3 | Luxembourg | Andy Schleck | 2010 |
3 | United States | Tejay van Garderen | 2012 |
2 | Russia | Vladimir Karpets | 2004 |
2 | Slovenia | Tadej Pogačar | 2021 |
2 | United Kingdom | Simon Yates | 2017 |
1 | Australia | Phil Anderson | 1982 |
1 | Mexico | Raúl Alcalá | 1987 |
1 | Ukraine | Yaroslav Popovych | 2006 |
List of Young Rider Classification winners, 1975 to present
Year | Winner | Nationality |
---|---|---|
1975 | Francesco Moser | Italy |
1976 | Enrique Martínez Heredia | Spain |
1977 | Dietrich Thurau | Germany |
1978 | Henk Lubberding | Netherlands |
1979 | Jean-René Bernaudeau | France |
1980 | Johan van der Velde | Netherlands |
1981 | Peter Winnen | Netherlands |
1982 | Phil Anderson | Australia |
1983 | Laurent Fignon | France |
1984 | Greg LeMond | United States |
1985 | Fabio Parra | Colombia |
1986 | Andrew Hampsten | United States |
1987 | Raúl Alcalá | Mexico |
1988 | Erik Breukink | Netherlands |
1989 | Fabrice Philipot | France |
1990 | Gilles Delion | France |
1991 | Álvaro Mejía Castrillón | Colombia |
1992 | Eddy Bouwmans | Netherlands |
1993 | Antonio Martín | Spain |
1994 | Marco Pantani | Italy |
1995 | Marco Pantani | Italy |
1996 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
1997 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
1998 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
1999 | Benoît Salmon | France |
2000 | Francisco Mancebo | Spain |
2001 | Óscar Sevilla | Spain |
2002 | Ivan Basso | Italy |
2003 | Denis Menchov | Russia |
2004 | Vladimir Karpets | Russia |
2005 | Yaroslav Popovych | Ukraine |
2006 | Damiano Cunego | Italy |
2007 | Alberto Contador | Spain |
2008 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
2009 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
2010 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
2011 | Pierre Rolland | France |
2012 | Tejay van Garderen | United States |
2013 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia |
2014 | Thibaut Pinot | France |
2015 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia |
2016 | Adam Yates | United Kingdom |
2017 | Simon Yates | United Kingdom |
2018 | Pierre Latour | France |
2019 | Egan Bernal | Colombia |
2020 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |
2021 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |