A wind of change swept across the 1975 Tour de France. When the organizers introduced several innovations, they had no idea how lasting they would be. But time has proven them right. Three of those changes are now celebrating their 50th anniversary: the polka-dot jersey for the best climber, the white jersey for the best young rider, and the iconic finish of the final stage on the Champs-Élysées. These bold moves were part of an exceptional edition, which saw Bernard Thévenet become the first rider to defeat Eddy Merckx in the Tour. The official Tour website looks back at five decades of this history, in a four-part series.
And the youth keep rising... (II/IV)
Some read the future in tarot cards or coffee grounds. Others look to the peloton, trying to spot the rider in the white jersey for signs of a future Tour de France champion in the making. Before 1975, the white jersey was awarded to the leader of the combined classification. Its role has changed more than once: it was temporarily given to the best debutant, regardless of age (1983–87), and even disappeared entirely throughout the 1990s. Since its return in 2000, it has launched the careers of riders like Andy Schleck and Tadej Pogacar who, for four years, wore it so consistently it became a second skin.
