A wind of change swept through the 1975 Tour de France. When the organizers decided to introduce several innovations, they had no idea how long-lasting they would be, but time has proven them right.

Three of these changes now celebrate their 50th anniversary: the polka dot jersey for the best climber, the white jersey for the best young rider, and the final stage finish on the Champs-Élysées.

These innovative choices were a corollary to an exceptional edition of the Grande Boucle that saw Bernard Thévenet become the first rider to defeat Eddy Merckx at the Tour. The official site of the Grande Boucle proposes to retrace 50 years of this story in four appointments: this is the second in the series.

AND YOUTH CONTINUES TO GROW...

Some read the future in tarot cards or coffee grounds, others look at the peloton trying to identify the rider in the white jersey searching for signs of a future Tour de France champion in the making. Before 1975, the white jersey was assigned to the leader of the combined classification. Its role has changed more than once: it was temporarily assigned to the best debutant, regardless of age (1983-87), and even disappeared entirely during 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 with such consistency that it became a second skin. Here are five key moments linked to the 1970s.

1 - FRANCESCO MOSER, THE FIRST WINNER
First white jersey winner in 1975, Francesco Moser never had the opportunity to exchange it for the yellow one, finishing 7th in what would be his only Tour de France. However, his ride in white foreshadowed the career of one of the greatest classic hunters in cycling, and he would win the Giro d'Italia in 1984.

2 - THURAU FROM YELLOW TO WHITE
German rider Dietrich Thurau won five stages and finished 5th at his Tour debut in 1977. He maintained the yellow jersey until the 15th stage, when Bernard Thévenet took command in Avoriaz, but managed to keep the white jersey until Paris. "Didi" finished 10th in 1979 but abandoned the race four times between 1980 and 1987.

3 - BERNAUDEAU DOMESTIQUE AND LEADER
In 1979, Jean-René Bernaudeau played a key support role for Bernard Hinault at Renault-Gitane. While helping "Le Blaireau" to his second Tour victory, the "Vendéen" won the white jersey. Indicated as a potential successor to Hinault, Bernaudeau never improved on his 5th place, although he came close again in 1981 and 1983 (6th on both occasions).

4 - ANDERSON ONE AND TWO
After briefly becoming the first non-European rider to wear the yellow jersey in 1981, Australian Phil Anderson won the white jersey in 1982, finishing 5th overall. He repeated the same result in 1985.

5 - FIGNON INSTEAD... FROM WHITE TO YELLOW
Laurent Fignon did not immediately take control of the Tour at his debut in 1983. He pedaled dimly until a Pyrenean stage, where he jumped to second overall. He wore the white jersey for most of France before donning the yellow jersey at Alpe d'Huez.

HONOR ROLL

1975 Francesco Moser (Italia)
1976 Enrique Martínez (Spagna)
1977 Dietrich Thurau (Germania)
1978 Henk Lubberding (Paesi Bassi)
1979 Jean-René Bernaudeau (Francia)
1980 Johan Van der Velde (Paesi Bassi)
1981 Peter Winnen (Paesi Bassi)
1982 Phil Anderson (Australia )
1983 Laurent Fignon (Francia)
1984 Greg LeMond (Stati Uniti)
1985 Fabio Parra (Colombia)
1986 Andrew Hampsten (Stati Uniti)
1987 Raúl Alcalá (Messico)
1988 Erik Breukink (Paesi Bassi)
1989 Fabrice Philipot (Francia)
1990 Gilles Delion (Francia)
1991 Álvaro Mejía (Colombia)
1992 Eddy Bouwmans (Paesi Bassi)
1993 Antonio Martín Velasco (Spagna)
1994 Marco Pantani (Italia)
1995 Marco Pantani (Italia)
1996 Jan Ullrich (Germania)
1997 Jan Ullrich (Germania)
1998 Jan Ullrich (Germania)
1999 Benoît Salmon (Francia)
2000 Francisco Mancebo (Spagna)
2001 Óscar Sevilla (Spagna)
2002 Ivan Basso (Italia)
2003 Denis Men'šov (Russia)
2004 Vladimir Karpec (Russia)
2005 Jaroslav Popovyč (Ucraina)
2006 Damiano Cunego (Italia)
2007 Alberto Contador (Spagna)
2008 Andy Schleck (Lussemburgo)
2009 Andy Schleck (Lussemburgo)
2010 Andy Schleck (Lussemburgo)
2011 Pierre Rolland (Francia)
2012 Tejay van Garderen (Stati Uniti)
2013 Nairo Quintana (Colombia)
2014 Thibaut Pinot (Francia)
2015 Nairo Quintana (Colombia)
2016 Adam Yates (Gran Bretagna)
2017 Simon Yates (Gran Bretagna)
2018 Pierre Latour (Francia)
2019 Egan Bernal (Colombia)
2020 Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2021 Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2022 Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2023 Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2024 Remco Evenepoel (Belgio)