Born in 1942 in Saint-Brieuc, raised in a very modest environment, Jourden multiplied promising victories at the very beginning of a dazzling career, including the World Amateur Championship in 1961 in Bern (Switzerland), at just 19 years old. This title had immense value at the time (Eddy Merckx won it three years after him) and the young rider was then presented as the future Jacques Anquetil.