Maillot blanc
Encyclopedia
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, where the jersey is known as the maillot blanc and is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 years of age. The use of the white jersey to recognize the best young rider in a race is its most common use, though some tours award a white jersey for a different classification.
Other stage races, besides the Tour de France, that also award a white jersey for the best young rider include:
- Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
(known as the maglia bianca, and the cut-off is 25 years instead of 26) - Paris–Nice
- Tour of California (where the cut-off is 23 years instead of 26)
- Tour of IrelandTour of IrelandThe Tour of Ireland is a bicycle stage race held in August. The first race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5 day Nissan International Classic took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992...
Other white jerseys
Some stage races award a white jersey for a different classification than youth. The foremost of these is probably the Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
, where it recognizes the leader in the Combination classification. In this classification, ranks in the General, Points, and Mountains classifications are added, and whoever has the lowest cumulative total is awarded the white jersey. It is a relatively new award, having existed only since the 2003 edition of the race. In 1941, the Vuelta a España white jersey was for the leader and overall winner of the General classification.
The Vuelta al País Vasco awards a white jersey to the leader and overall winner of the Points classification. The Volta a Catalunya awards a white jersey with green stripes to the leader and overall winner of the General classification. The Tour de Suisse
Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
awards a white jersey to a somewhat unique competition, the Sprints classification, which awards placings not on stage finishes but strictly in intermediate sprints.
The Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
awards a white jersey, with green piping and side panels, to the leader and ultimately the winner of the King of the Mountains
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
classification.