Favorites white jersey Tour de France 2023: Who will challenge the three-time white jersey winner Pogacar?

The rider who stands on the final podium in Paris sporting the white jersey on his shoulders is usually either an already established but super-talented rider or someone who will manage to increasingly compete with the top riders in the following years. Not surprisingly, looking at the list of (recent) winners of the "le maillot blanc," you will find that this jersey has been won exclusively by absolute stars. For instance, the legendary Marco Pantani won it twice in the 1990s, followed by three consecutive victories by Jan Ullrich.

In 2020, 2021, and 2022, it was superstar Tadej Pogacar who won the young rider classification. He also won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, and in 2022, he finished second behind the "too old" Jonas Vingegaard. Just a friendly reminder: to be eligible for the white jersey, riders must be 25 or younger throughout the calendar year. So, if you're turning 26 in 2023, tough luck!

2022 Tadej Pogacar
2021 Tadej Pogacar
2020 Tadej Pogacar
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Pierre Latour
2017 Simon Yates
2016 Adam Yates
2015 Nairo Quintana
2014 Thibaut Pinot
2013 Nairo Quintana

We start this list of favorites with Kevin Vermaerke. The American rider from Team DSM may not be ranked very high on this list, but the 22-year-old from California undoubtedly possesses a considerable amount of climbing talent. This became evident in 2019 when Vermaerke triumphed in the U23 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The Yankee became a full-time professional in the Dutch team as of January 1, 2021. Since then, he has managed to amass quite a few impressive results in high mountain stages, making a name for himself. For example, he raced to two top-ten finishes in the Tour of Oman in early 2022, and in the Critérium du Dauphiné, he secured a fourth place in a stage. Vermaerke has continued to shine this year, as evidenced by his eighth place in the Vuelta a San Juan and his sixth place in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse. Keep an eye on Vermaerke—he's one to watch!

Clément Champoussin recently showed good form, which is why he is included in this list of favorites for the young rider classification. The 25-year-old climber from Arkéa Samsic has been a familiar name in the peloton for quite some time, and that reputation is well-deserved. The slender man from Nice won a stage in the Vuelta a España in 2021 and has continued his upward trajectory since then.

The French rider will approach the Tour with a lot of confidence, given his solid preparation for the biggest cycling race in the world. He had an impressive Critérium du Dauphiné, followed by a fine fifth place in the CIC Mont Ventoux. It remains to be seen whether the co-leader of the French WorldTour team will aim for a general classification or will rather aim for stage wins, but he can certainly be considered a (distant) outsider in the battle for the white jersey.

Maxim Van Gils is a rider who deserves his spot on this list. The youngster from Lotto-Dstny is highly versatile, as he excels in climbing, punching, and possesses strong sprinting capabilities. The 23-year-old from Belgium is in good form, as evidenced by his strong performances in the Critérium du Dauphiné. He also made his mark in the Ardennes Classics, finishing seventh in the Amstel Gold Race, eighth in La Flèche Wallonne, and eleventh in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

"Maxim is the youngest of the bunch at 23 years old and will be starting without any pressure. After his excellent Ardennes campaign in the spring, we have confidence that he can showcase his talent in the Tour de France," said sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer about his protégé. Stage victories seem to be Van Gils' main goal, but it would not be surprising if he tries to compete with the top contenders for the general classification as well.

Uno-X is participating in the Tour de France for the first time. The Norwegian ProTour team wants to aim for the sky on various terrains. In sprints, the team, primarily sponsored by a gas station chain, relies on Alexander Kristoff, while Tobias Halland Johannessen is expected to shine in the hilly and mountainous stages.

It is highly likely that Johannessen will focus on a good overall classification. It is not unreasonable to assume that the 23-year-old Norwegian will establish himself in the top twenty of that ranking, especially since he is in good form. He finished ninth in the Tour of Norway and fifteenth in the Critérium du Dauphiné (including a third place in stage five). Johannessen won the Tour de l'Avenir (Tour of the Future) in 2021. This Tour de France for young riders has been won in recent years by riders such as David Gaudu, Egan Bernal and Tadej Pogacar. Johannessen is undoubtedly a rider to keep an eye on — a true class act in the making.

Ah, Felix Gall, the 25-year-old sensation, has been tearing it up on the roads this year. The general classification rider from AG2R Citroën Team has already achieved several honorary results in the early part of the season. In his ultimate preparation race for the Tour de France, the Tour de Suisse, Gall performed more than satisfactorily. He won the fourth stage and finished eighth in the overall classification of the Swiss stage race.

Ben O'Connor is the designated leader for the French WorldTour team when it comes to the GC, but Gall will certainly have the opportunity to grab his own chances. The team management has given him the green light to chase after a stage victory if he feels like it. However, it is highly likely that Gall also aims to contend for the yellow jersey (and thus the white jersey).

If a ranking based on versatility were to be made, Matteo Jorgenson would feature very high on the list. This American gem from Movistar is like a Swiss Army knife on two wheels. He can do well in the cobblestoned chaos of the spring classics, conquering the hilly races with finesse and soaring through the high mountains. There is ample evidence for this: the lanky cyclist from California finished fourth in the E3 Saxo Classic this year, won the Tour of Oman, and finished second in the Tour de Romandie. Jorgenson can rightfully be considered a true all-rounder.

Jorgenson recently stated in an interview that he will initially ride in support of team leader Enric Mas. However, if destiny decides to wink at him and offer an opportunity, he won't hesitate to grab it by the handlebars. Whether that chance is a potential stage victory or a good position in the general classification is yet to be determined. What is certain, however, is that Jorgenson is someone to watch out for. Don't be surprised if you see him jostling for that coveted white jersey.

When it comes to versatility, Tom Pidcock is a cycling chameleon who can morph from road racer to cyclocross conqueror to mountain bike maverick without breaking a sweat. In the 2022 Tour de France, he propelled himself to a stage victory on Alpe d'Huez.

As the 23-year-old from Leeds sets his sights on this year's edition, he aims to outdo himself. If Pidcock decides to go all-in for the general classification, his chances are undeniably promising. He occasionally succumbs to the whims of off-days that can derail his ambitions for the overall standings. Consistency may not always be his best friend, but don't underestimate this lanky lad from Yorkshire. If he can dodge those setbacks, Pidcock could be a serious contender for the coveted white jersey.

The third position on this list of favorites goes to a teammate of Tom Pidcock at INEOS Grenadiers, Carlos Rodríguez. The 2022 Spanish champion impressed with an honorable finish in his debut in a Grand Tour, the 2022 Vuelta a España. The 22-year-old climber finished seventh overall, although he had been in the fourth or fifth position throughout most of the race before a series of mishaps and bad luck 'knocked him out'.

Looking at the lineup of the British WorldTour team, Rodríguez is likely the key man for the general classification. He is also competing for the young rider classification and could potentially surprise in both the battle for "le maillot jaune" and "le maillot blanc". Rodríguez concluded the Critérium du Dauphiné, which served as his ultimate preparation race, with a ninth place in the final classification. He even won the young rider classification. There are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on the young Spaniard!

It seems that we can no longer ignore Mattias Skjelmose in the various lists of favorites. The Danish talent from Trek-Segafredo, which will operate under the name Lidl-Trek from June 30, is in exceptional form. The 22-year-old rider from Copenhagen finished second in the national time trial championships, won the road race, and recently triumphed in the Tour de Suisse. It's safe to say that we are witnessing an impressive debut, although the term debut might not be entirely accurate since the slender Scandinavian already won the Tour of Luxembourg in 2022.

Skjelmose is going all out to achieve a good overall classification, although he may also find some nice opportunities for stage victories. Skjelmose possesses a good punch, which could work in his favor in this edition of the Tour de France. In the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the trio of races known as the Ardennes Classics, Skjelmose finished eighth, second and ninth, respectively. Expect Skjelmose to be in the mix for the white jersey!

While we noted that other riders are aiming to "compete for the white jersey," that is all relative when it comes to two-time Tour winner (and perhaps the world's best cyclist) Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian rider from UAE Team Emirates needs no further explanation. He is the man to beat in the battle for the white jersey, and Pogacar can only lose.

Pogacar has already crowned himself the winner of the young rider classification in the past three editions of one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and it would be highly surprising if the exceptional talent doesn't add a fourth consecutive victory. In the discussions about the white jersey, the voracious Pogacar doesn't have to worry about Jonas Vingegaard, the 26-year-old Dane from Jumbo-Visma who is seen as the biggest contender for the overall victory. For Pogacar, the white jersey is nevertheless an afterthought. But it's an afterthought that he is expected to win without a doubt.