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.
List of Young Rider Classification winners, 1975 to 2022
| Year | Rider | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |
| 2021 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |
| 2020 | Tadej Pogačar | Slovenia |
| 2019 | Egan Bernal | Colombia |
| 2018 | Pierre Latour | France |
| 2017 | Simon Yates | United Kingdom |
| 2016 | Adam Yates | United Kingdom |
| 2015 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia |
| 2014 | Thibaut Pinot | France |
| 2013 | Nairo Quintana | Colombia |
| 2012 | Tejay van Garderen | United States |
| 2011 | Pierre Rolland | France |
| 2010 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
| 2009 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
| 2008 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg |
| 2007 | Alberto Contador | Spain |
| 2006 | Damiano Cunego | Italy |
| 2005 | Yaroslav Popovych | Ukraine |
| 2004 | Vladimir Karpets | Russia |
| 2003 | Denis Menchov | Russia |
| 2002 | Ivan Basso | Italy |
| 2001 | Óscar Sevilla | Spain |
| 2000 | Francisco Mancebo | Spain |
| 1999 | Benoît Salmon | France |
| 1998 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
| 1997 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
| 1996 | Jan Ullrich | Germany |
| 1995 | Marco Pantani | Italy |
| 1994 | Marco Pantani | Italy |
| 1993 | Antonio Martín | Spain |
| 1992 | Eddy Bouwmans | Netherlands |
| 1991 | Álvaro Mejía Castrillón | Colombia |
| 1990 | Gilles Delion | France |
| 1989 | Fabrice Philipot | France |
| 1988 | Erik Breukink | Netherlands |
| 1987 | Raúl Alcalá | Mexico |
| 1986 | Andrew Hampsten | United States |
| 1985 | Fabio Parra | Colombia |
| 1984 | Greg LeMond | United States |
| 1983 | Laurent Fignon | France |
| 1982 | Phil Anderson | Australia |
| 1981 | Peter Winnen | Netherlands |
| 1980 | Johan van der Velde | Netherlands |
| 1979 | Jean-René Bernaudeau | France |
| 1978 | Henk Lubberding | Netherlands |
| 1977 | Dietrich Thurau | Germany |
| 1976 | Enrique Martínez Heredia | Spain |
| 1975 | Francesco Moser | Italy |
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, 2022)
- 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 eight 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 | Last win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 3 | Slovenia | Tadej Pogačar | 2022 |
| 2 | Russia | Vladimir Karpets | 2004 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | Simon Yates | 2017 |
| 1 | Australia | Phil Anderson | 1982 |
| 1 | Mexico | Raúl Alcalá | 1987 |
| 1 | Ukraine | Yaroslav Popovych | 2006 |
Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.
He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.