The Tour de France has seen Tadej Pogacar win four white jerseys in as many years since 2020, the record in the history of the event. Now ineligible, the Slovenian must cede his princely crown to the other best young people in the world peloton. On this Tour de France 2024 (June 29-July 21), there will be many fighting for this precious fabric. Analysis of favorites and candidates.
Who will succeed Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) for the white jersey? This is a major issue of this Tour de France 2024, which begins this Saturday, June 29. Among those who make up the extremely dense field of riders for the general classification, many young people are present and should have their say in the battle. Before analyzing them, here is a quick reminder of the eligibility conditions. To be a candidate for the title of best young person, you must be in your 25th year or less.
For this 2024 edition of Tour de Franceyou must therefore be born from 1999. As Pogacarborn in 1998, Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) or Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) are no longer eligible to receive this title.
Who are the big favorites for the white jersey in this 2024 Tour de France?
5th of Tour de France 2023, Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) also finished 2nd in the best youngster ranking last year. The Spaniard, who won the 14th stage last year, will be one of the leaders within his team, alongsideEgan Bernal or Tom Pidcock. 6 days a day The Vuelta 2022Rodriguez arrives in good form since he won the Tour of Romandy (2.UWT) at the end of April before taking 4th place in the Critérium du Dauphiné (2.UWT) on June 9, with a stop in the bag. He will undoubtedly be one of the favorites for the white jersey on this Big loop.
He also knows the white jersey well, since they collect them. At only 19 years old, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) reached the podium (3rd) of The Vuelta 2022, before shining a year later with a 4th place and the title of best youngster. 2nd of Tirreno-Adriatico (2.UWT), winner of the Tour of the Basque Countrythe young Spaniard has shone this season and will be one of the big favorites for the white jersey.
Equiper au service de Tadej Pogacar and member of the Emirati armada, wearing the white jersey will not however be his main objective. We will nevertheless have to count on him on this Tour de France 2024his first, even if he disrupted his preparation by falling on the Dauphiné.
Behind them, who are the outsiders in the white jersey?
Behind the Spanish duo, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) et Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) act as outsiders in the race for the white jersey. The two 24-year-old men (Jorgenson will celebrate its 25th anniversary on July 1) have had seasons with a fairly similar schedule, but the performances are to the advantage of the American.
Jorgensonarrived within Visma-Lease a Bike this winter, achieved by far his best career season, with the surprise victory over Paris-Nice (2.UWT) but also a 2nd place on the Critérium du Dauphiné on June 9, beaten by only 8 seconds by Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe). If he is one of the best riders in the general classification this season, the American presents uncertainty in Grand Tour.
Anyone who is also comfortable on the classics has never done better than 20th place on the Tour de France 2022. His ability to last three weeks as well as his potential status as a team member in the service of Jonas Vingegaard question and suggest doubt as to its performance on this Tour de France 2024. Given his level this season, however, he will be a name to watch in the battle for the white jersey.
For his part, Remco Evenepoel will finally discover the Tour de France. He is also an outsider in the hunt for the white jersey, given his results in Grand Tour but also his 2024 season. The Belgian took 2nd place in Paris-Nice as well as 7th place in the Dauphiné, 1 month after his fall in the Basque Country. If he arrives far from being 100%, the winner of The Vuelta 2022 has already shown his ability over three weeks and will need to be monitored by his opponents. The time trial specialist will also be able to take advantage of the timed courses (58.5km in total) to make the difference in the general classification.
However, Evenepoel remains on an inconclusive experience in the general classification in Grand Tourwith a 12th place on The Vuelta 2023insufficient to retain his title in Spain. If he won three stages, brought back the polka dot jersey or even the super combative bib, the 2022 world champion was unable to keep up with the best in the high mountains, where he lost a lot of time on the winner . The Belgian’s level in the series of passes as well as in the high mountains seems insufficient to hope to be at the level of his competitors in the white jersey.
They are also present in the white jersey fight…
The 4 men already mentioned will not be the only ones to fight to get on the final podium at Nice. First of all, you will have to deal with Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers), teammate of Carlos Rodriguez. The Briton impressed in 2022 by winning at the top of theAlpe d’Huez, before placing himself in 16th place in the final general classification. In 2023, the cyclocross specialist progressed with a 13th place in Paris. This year, the all-rounder Pidcock has repeatedly expressed his wish to fully play for the first time in the general ranking on the Tour de France.
An ambition which comes when he will have to evolve alongside many leaders within his team, but the one who has already worn the white tunic of best young person by proxy in 2022 is capable of the best. This season, he finished 9th in the Tirreno-Adriatico or even 6th of Tour of Switzerland (2.UWT) on June 16, ahead of his teammate Egan Bernal. Tom Pidcock arrives in good shape and we will have to count on the one who is also aiming for gold at the Paris Olympic Games.
Finally, the Colombian Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) will also be there and will start at Florence this Saturday. After three exercises on The Return and two on the Girothe native of Bogota will discover the Big loop. If he is among the names to be considered in the battle for the white jersey, this is not only linked to the comparison with Nairo Quintana or Egan Bernal, his two compatriots having won the classification for best young person. If it is very likely that he wishes to imitate the two South American champions, above all he has the ability.
His 10th place from the last Vuelta demonstrates its means over three weeks, and its 11th place on the Dauphiné early June attests to his form, while he will not be the sole leader of his training. If he does not aim for the final podium at Niceit could be one of the surprises of this Tour de France 2024.
