For the first time since 2020 and his first participation in the Grande Boucle, Tadej Pogacar will not be able to claim a fifth white jersey, rewarding the best young person on the Tour. The Slovenian, who is entering his 26th year, no longer meets the age criteria. The opportunity for young, long-toothed wolves to fight for the white tunic.
Evenepoel, Ayuso, Rodriguez or Jorgenson, the undisputed leaders and the luxury teammates could mix in the battle, offering a great fight behind that for the yellow jersey. Unless one of the young people brings back both tunics, for the first time since Pogacar in 2021.
As a reminder, the white jersey is awarded to the rider aged 25 or less in the current year who is best classified overall.
Since the announcement of his participation in his first Tour de France on January 9, Remco Evenepoel (24 years old) has entered the discussion of the favorites of the 2024 Tour de France. The Belgian, winner of the Vuelta in 2022, could engage in the battle for the podium in the general classification, and is the main favorite for the white jersey.
But his recent performance in the Critérium du Dauphiné (7th overall) leaves some doubts about his form. Returning from a heavy fall in the Tour of the Basque Country, which caused him a fracture of the scapula and collarbone, Evenepoel marked time in the mountains, despite a victory in the time trial.
The Belgian will still be able to count on a team dedicated to his success, including the experienced Mikel Landa and his young teammate Ilan van Wilder for the mountains.
Fifth last year, Carlos Rodriguez (23) will face strong competition from within his own team, Ineos-Grenadiers, with the two former winners Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas. But if the Spaniard manages to show the same form as last year, he could definitively take the lead of the British team.
At the Critérium du Dauphiné, Rodriguez showed good form, finishing fourth overall, 1’25” ahead of Evenepoel. The Spaniard won the last stage at the top of the Plateau des Glières.
If he is confirmed as leader of Ineos-Grenadiers, Rodriguez will be able to count on the help of Thomas and Bernal, but also on Tom Pidcock, winner at the top of Alpe d’Huez in 2022.
The winner of Paris-Nice, Matteo Jorgenson (24), is in the form of his life. The American proved it again on the steep roads of the Critérium du Dauphiné, failing just eight seconds behind winner Primoz Roglic in the general classification.
But at the Tour de France, an imposing teammate, title holder Jonas Vingegaard, is expected to take the light and wheel from Jorgenson in the mountains. With the absence of Sepp Kuss, the American should move into a lieutenant role, perhaps preventing him from aiming for the white jersey.
But Jorgenson could still benefit from a possible physical weakness of Vingegaard, who has not raced since the Tour of the Basque Country and his heavy fall in April, and whose form is unknown.
Author of a good start to the season with a 2nd place in Tirreno-Adriatico and a victory in the Tour of the Basque Country, Juan Ayuso (21 years old) will participate in his first Tour de France on Saturday. Best young rider of the Vuelta 2023, the Spaniard will this time be aligned as a teammate of the big favorite Tadej Pogacar, which could prevent him from aiming for a white jersey.
But in case of failure of his leader, perhaps he could get a free pass in certain passes to try to play his own card. Unless UAE favors the Adam Yates card, shining on the Tour de Suisse, in case of problem for his leader.
If the battle seems to be looming between these four favorites, other riders could try to insert themselves into the fight to create a surprise. This is for example the case of Santiago Buitrago (24 years old), 11th in the Critérium du Dauphiné, who could take the leadership of the Bahrain-Victorious, ahead of Pello Bilbao and Jack Haig for his first Tour de France.
Among the French, the surprise could come from Lenny Martinez (20 years old), announced at the last minute in the Groupama-FDJ line-up. Selected to try to grab a stage, the wearer of the red jersey on the Vuelta 2023 could take advantage of a good move to slip into the battle. Nevertheless, the white jersey is not the objective targeted by the young French nugget.
