When the Tour de France starts on Saturday, eyes will inevitably be fixed on the yellow jersey, the symbol of absolute leadership in the most important race in the world. But, as tradition dictates, the Grande Boucle will also award the other iconic jerseys: the green jersey reserved for the points classification, the polka dot jersey for the best climber and the white jersey, awarded to the best young rider in the general classification.

And it is precisely this latter one, which since 2000 has been awarded as we see it today, that in 2026 also promises to be one of the most fascinating battles of the entire race. Not only because it represents the future of world cycling, but because many of the contenders for the white jersey will simultaneously be protagonists in the fight for the yellow jersey as well.

All riders born from January 1st, 2001 onwards can compete in the young riders classification, meaning athletes who have not yet turned 26 during the season. There are 41 riders at the start who meet this requirement.

Among them stand out some of the names destined to mark cycling over the next ten years: Mexican Isaac Del Toro, Spaniard Juan Ayuso, Frenchman Paul Seixas, Belgian Cian Uijtdebroeks, Frenchman Lenny Martinez, Italian Alex Baudin and, of course, Italians Antonio Tiberi and Davide Piganzoli, ready to play an important role in the French race.

The white jersey, for several years now, is no longer simply a classification reserved for young riders, but represents almost a second standings for the final victory. The best talents arrive at the Tour already competitive for the general classification and often end up competing for both standings. Recent history clearly demonstrates this. In recent years the white jersey has been worn by riders destined to become absolute protagonists of world cycling.

Tadej Pogacar won it for four consecutive editions, but also dominating the Tour, Remco Evenepoel confirmed his talent over three weeks as well, while among the most recent winners are also Florian Lipowitz, Egan Bernal and Simon Yates.

Wearing the white jersey often means writing the first chapter of a career destined for the highest levels. The last edition demonstrated how dynamic this classification can be. Five different riders wore the white jersey during the three weeks.

The first was Biniam Girmay, leader after the opening sprint in Lille. The next stage saw Kévin Vauquelin take over after Mathieu van der Poel's victory in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The time trial in Caen handed the leadership to Remco Evenepoel, before Ben Healy managed to snatch it from him after the finish at Puy de Sancy. The Belgian returned to the lead two days later, but on the big mountains Florian Lipowitz emerged definitively, managing to defend the jersey all the way to Paris, resisting even the attacks of Oscar Onley.

Among all the contenders, the name that seems to start with slightly better odds is that of Isaac Del Toro. The twenty-two-year-old Mexican arrives at the Tour after an extraordinary season, in which he won three World Tour stage races: the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Only his withdrawal at the Tour of the Basque Country interrupted an impressive streak.

At UAE Team Emirates he will initially be in service of Pogacar, but recent history teaches that the Slovenian champion's domestiques often finish very high in the general classification. First Adam Yates and then João Almeida were proof of this. This is also why Del Toro is considered the main favorite for the white jersey.

Behind him comes Juan Ayuso, one of the most anticipated talents of his generation. After years spent at UAE Emirates XRG, the twenty-three-year-old Spaniard chose Lidl-Trek to find more space. The podium finish at the 2022 Vuelta and fourth place in 2023 testify to his value, although a series of crashes limited his performance in the first part of the season. However, his third place at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes suggests that his condition is improving.

The other name destined to set the Tour on fire is that of Paul Seixas. At just 19 years old, he probably represents the brightest talent in French cycling. He has already achieved prestigious victories such as the Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country, but the question of endurance remains: this will be his first Grand Tour. The crash that forced him to withdraw from Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes slowed his preparation, but his potential remains enormous.

Among the riders to watch is also Cian Uijtdebroeks, who moved from Visma-Lease a Bike to Movistar to find more space and especially the opportunity to race the Tour as team leader.

The Belgian has already demonstrated important qualities for Grand Tours with his eighth place finish at the 2023 Vuelta. This season he finished eighth at the Tour of Catalonia, twelfth at the Tour of the Basque Country and seventh at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. His stated objective is to finish in the Top 10 of the general classification. A result that would inevitably make him one of the main candidates for winning the white jersey as well.

Italian cycling will also be able to dream thanks to two riders still eligible for the young riders classification. Antonio Tiberi (25 years old) arrives at the Tour with the ambition to confirm himself among the best general classification riders on the international scene. His qualities in climbing and time trialing make him one of the most credible candidates for an important placement both in the overall standings and in the fight for the white jersey.

There is also great curiosity around Davide Piganzoli (23 years old), one of the most interesting prospects in the Italian cycling movement, called to compete with the new generation of cycling phenomena.

The fight for the white jersey will be much more than a simple parallel classification. It will be the direct confrontation between those who, in the coming years, are destined to inherit the legacy of the great champions.

Many of them will already fight this year for a place on the Tour de France podium. For some the white jersey will be only an intermediate stage towards even more prestigious goals, but history teaches that almost all the great winners of the Grande Boucle in the new millennium have passed through this classification.