The youth classification of the Tour de France in 2012 is, compared to recent years, somewhat underwhelming. Since the youth classification, the white jersey, was introduced in 1975 six riders who won the white jersey have gone on to win yellow. Recently Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador have won both classifications in the same year. Pierre Rolland who won the classification last year is no longer eligible and of the top ten young riders in last year’s Tour, only one rider is eligible in 2012. Second in the classification last year by only 46 seconds, the Estonian Rein Taaramäe is one of the favourites to win the classification in 2012 after finishing behind Rolland last year. The eligible riders in this edition will find themselves either riding for their captains, helping them achieve their GC ambitions or having a tilt at the white jersey with a mix of team support and little Grand Tour experience to draw upon. Therefore there is a chance that the next young star emerges from the 2012 Tour but on paper it is a weaker classification than it has been for several years.
A year in which genuine young GC rider’s are a rarity, Rein Taaramäe has one last chance to win the white jersey and is favourite to do so. Having finished 12th overall last year he will be looking to improve upon that result but with white jersey winners finishing 12th overall in 2008, 2006, 2005, 1993, 1988 and 1980 finishing 12th again may not harm his hopes for the white jersey. He will however have some competition from the Rabobank team, BMC, Cofidis and to an extent Vacansoleil-DCM. Rabobank are a team which will be looking at high placings for their two GC men, Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema, but this may be beneficial to their white jersey hopefuls. Last year saw Rolland benefit from Thomas Voeckler fourth placing as he finished 11th overall and 1st in the young rider classification. This was the result of helping Voeckler through the mountains and remaining at the front of the race. A domestique doesn’t have to compromise their personal ambitions but it is more likely they will benefit from helping than by launching their own attacks to gain time. It seems unlikely that the candidates in the young riders classification will be initiating attacks. Instead they will be looking to make up time or bridge their rivals in the ITT with the mountain stages more or less who can hold on the longest without conceding precious seconds overall.
At BMC Cadel Evans has had the team built around his attempt to win back to back Tour’s but with Tejay Van Garderen looking like he will be key domestique in the mountains, he may also benefit from having a GC man in his team to follow. Thibaut Pinot and Taaramäe will need to rely on their teams to offer help when needed or will find themselves chasing wheels. These two riders won't have a GC hopeful in their ranks that they will be riding for nor can they benefit from this is the way Van Garderen and Kruijswijk will. This will be the difference between the eventual winner of the classification and the top ten. However playing the domestique role may also hurt Van Garderen and Kruijswijk and their white jersey hopes.
Another rider who could be capable of a yellow-white double makes an awaited Tour debut in 2012. Having finished three Grand Tours of which his best result was 8th in the 2011 Giro d’Italia, Kruijswijk will find himself somewhat limited in his opportunities as Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema will be leading the Rabobank charge this year. Kruijswijk’s white jersey hopes will rest upon how the Rabobank GC approach goes and depending on the form of the two GC riders; he could find himself as the GC man for Rabobank. This could be the Grand Tour in which Kruijswijk shows his potential.
As Kruijswijk is making his debut this year how he handles the Tour over the three weeks will be crucial in whether or not he can arrive in Paris in white. The support among Rabobank will be split and this may cost Kruijswijk who could find himself chasing stages rather than overall in the classification. He does however remain a favourite after his promising Grand Tour appearances and this will be beneficial when up against riders making their debut Tour appearances. A top ten in the classification would be the very least expected of the Dutchman.
The youngest rider in this year’s edition of the Tour makes his debut in 2012 with a sneaking suspicion that he can finish in Paris wearing white. The exciting French talent will also be making his Grand Tour debut and whether or not he can finish the three week race will weigh heavily upon his white jersey hopes. Having won the young riders classification at Bayern-Rundfahrt this year where he also finished 7th overall, indicated that in stage races he can be competitive and can also take stage wins. FDJ-Bigmat will be able to provide support for the 22 year old but again, Pinot is a young rider with large expectations upon his shoulders. Having seen Rolland win the classification last year, the French desire for Tour success has been slightly appeased and thus the hopes that rest upon Pinot won't be as high as they possibly may have been if Rolland hadn’t had a breakout Tour.
Pinot may be an early leader in the classification but how he copes with the mountain stages will be interesting to see. He could suffer in the ITT stages as the mental strength of the young riders is often most under the spotlight during the ITT as they push for glory. At 22 Pinot will have several more chances at the white jersey and 2012 may become a dress rehearsal as Pinot as he learns the Grand Tour ropes and prepares for future success. Pinot should still perform well and looks like he may be fighting to yellow in the years to come.
The young Dutch rider will be looking for stage wins throughout the Tour but after his Tour of Luxembourg performance in which he won the queen stage and young riders classification, a white jersey could also be his. Not as focused as his other young rivals on the overall, Poels nevertheless is considered a favourite after an impressive 2012 season so far.
Making his second Tour appearances after failing to finish in 2011, Poels will be hoping to add to his young rider classification wins at the Tour of Luxembourg and Tirreno-Adriatico in 2012. With his Vacansoleil-DCM team chasing stage wins, a good first week for Poels could see the team shift their focus onto providing the platform for white jersey success. For many fans they will have a soft spot for the Dutch team after last year’s horrific crash in which Johnny Hoogerland was hit by a media car during Stage 9 and flung into a barbwire fence. Hoogerland amazingly not only finished the stage, but also the Tour. He arrived in Saint-Flour after the crash to applause and with the maillot pois awaiting him. Vacansoleil-DCM will be hoping for more podium appearances in 2012 but without the crashes. Poels could be a repeat offender on the podium this year but that will rest upon how he manages to remain competitive over the three weeks. he looks the most likely of the young riders to initiate attacks as he chases stage wins and as a result may find himself in a high overall position in the race for the white jersey
The Estonian has won two previous youth classifications which both came in 2011. This was achieved at Paris-Nice and the Critérium International in which he finished 3rd and 4th respectively. After his Tour appearance last year, Taaramäe went to the Vuelta and won Stage 14 to show he could reproduce his efforts in July. However the Vuelta does not award a youth classification jersey and he had to settle for a stage win only. These results showed that Taaramäe is capable of riding stage races and registering results when doing so. Continuing his form from 2011, Taaramäe won the Estonian ITT national championships for a third time after finishing 2nd overall at the Vuelta a Andalucía and 3rd at Étoile de Bessèges. A stage win at the Tour would be a bonus to the Cofidis rider but a long stint in the white jersey looks more likely. Up against Edvald Boasson Hagen in the opening prologue, Taaramäe would be unlikely to be called up the presentation in Liege as the Norwegian is a superior time trailer and is also eligible for the white jersey.
Taaramäe showed that he can compete in Grand Tours in 2011 with his one day stint in white at the Tour and his Vuelta stage win. It is expected that he builds upon his success and 2012 looks to be the year he can ascend to the next level and become the 30th rider to win this classification. Up against the Rabobank team, Taaramäe may find himself isolated and allies will be hard to come by. He won't be the only rider to experience this and therefore his strong result last year means he is just ahead of the rest. He will be known to the peloton after having twice ridden the Tour and therefore lacks an element of surprise but his ITT prowess holds him in good stead for white.
Tejay Van Garderen will be making his second Tour appearance in 2012 and his first for BMC. After his debut Tour in which he became the first American to wear the climber’s maillot pois, the BMC rider will be hoping for more podium appearances. In 2011 Van Garderen won the young riders classification at the Tour of California and the USA Procycling challenge. In 2012 he added to these victories another young rider classification at Paris-Nice. Already a Grand Tour Stage winner after his HTC team won the 2010 TTT stage at the Vuelta, Van Garderen looks to be a future star of cycling and capable of adding to his Grand Tour stage win tally.
Van Garderen will be eligible for the young riders classification again in 2013 but still remains a favourite for the classification this year. The only thing that detracts from his chances is that his team mate Cadel Evans will be chasing yellow. That does not mean Van Garderen will necessarily suffer in his quest for white but his efforts will need to be measured in order to ensure that he is at the Tour for Evans and not himself. However Rolland showed last year that although he was riding as a domestique for Thomas Voeckler his personal aspirations were not heavily affected by this role. Van Garderen will have taken notice of this and also looks to be the greatest ITT threat of the young riders who can match it in the mountains with the older riders. In this discipline Van Garderen may push himself that little bit further so that in the mountains he remains a key ally for Evans. Should Evans have a disastrous Tour, Van Garderen will find himself as the GC man for BMC and could find himself a smokey for a white-yellow double. The experience he gained from last year will be crucial as Van Garderen can draw upon that experience and know how far he can push himself while still remaining a key climbing ally for Evans.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) 05.17. 1987 (3rd)*
Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil-DCM) 13.02.1987 (1st)
A year in which genuine young GC rider’s are a rarity, Rein Taaramäe has one last chance to win the white jersey and is favourite to do so. Having finished 12th overall last year he will be looking to improve upon that result but with white jersey winners finishing 12th overall in 2008, 2006, 2005, 1993, 1988 and 1980 finishing 12th again may not harm his hopes for the white jersey. He will however have some competition from the Rabobank team, BMC, Cofidis and to an extent Vacansoleil-DCM. Rabobank are a team which will be looking at high placings for their two GC men, Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema, but this may be beneficial to their white jersey hopefuls. Last year saw Rolland benefit from Thomas Voeckler fourth placing as he finished 11th overall and 1st in the young rider classification. This was the result of helping Voeckler through the mountains and remaining at the front of the race. A domestique doesn’t have to compromise their personal ambitions but it is more likely they will benefit from helping than by launching their own attacks to gain time. It seems unlikely that the candidates in the young riders classification will be initiating attacks. Instead they will be looking to make up time or bridge their rivals in the ITT with the mountain stages more or less who can hold on the longest without conceding precious seconds overall.
At BMC Cadel Evans has had the team built around his attempt to win back to back Tour’s but with Tejay Van Garderen looking like he will be key domestique in the mountains, he may also benefit from having a GC man in his team to follow. Thibaut Pinot and Taaramäe will need to rely on their teams to offer help when needed or will find themselves chasing wheels. These two riders won't have a GC hopeful in their ranks that they will be riding for nor can they benefit from this is the way Van Garderen and Kruijswijk will. This will be the difference between the eventual winner of the classification and the top ten. However playing the domestique role may also hurt Van Garderen and Kruijswijk and their white jersey hopes.
Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) 07.06.1987
Debut Tour de France participation
Another rider who could be capable of a yellow-white double makes an awaited Tour debut in 2012. Having finished three Grand Tours of which his best result was 8th in the 2011 Giro d’Italia, Kruijswijk will find himself somewhat limited in his opportunities as Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema will be leading the Rabobank charge this year. Kruijswijk’s white jersey hopes will rest upon how the Rabobank GC approach goes and depending on the form of the two GC riders; he could find himself as the GC man for Rabobank. This could be the Grand Tour in which Kruijswijk shows his potential.
As Kruijswijk is making his debut this year how he handles the Tour over the three weeks will be crucial in whether or not he can arrive in Paris in white. The support among Rabobank will be split and this may cost Kruijswijk who could find himself chasing stages rather than overall in the classification. He does however remain a favourite after his promising Grand Tour appearances and this will be beneficial when up against riders making their debut Tour appearances. A top ten in the classification would be the very least expected of the Dutchman.
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Bigmat) 29.5.1990
Debut Tour de France participation
The youngest rider in this year’s edition of the Tour makes his debut in 2012 with a sneaking suspicion that he can finish in Paris wearing white. The exciting French talent will also be making his Grand Tour debut and whether or not he can finish the three week race will weigh heavily upon his white jersey hopes. Having won the young riders classification at Bayern-Rundfahrt this year where he also finished 7th overall, indicated that in stage races he can be competitive and can also take stage wins. FDJ-Bigmat will be able to provide support for the 22 year old but again, Pinot is a young rider with large expectations upon his shoulders. Having seen Rolland win the classification last year, the French desire for Tour success has been slightly appeased and thus the hopes that rest upon Pinot won't be as high as they possibly may have been if Rolland hadn’t had a breakout Tour.
Pinot may be an early leader in the classification but how he copes with the mountain stages will be interesting to see. He could suffer in the ITT stages as the mental strength of the young riders is often most under the spotlight during the ITT as they push for glory. At 22 Pinot will have several more chances at the white jersey and 2012 may become a dress rehearsal as Pinot as he learns the Grand Tour ropes and prepares for future success. Pinot should still perform well and looks like he may be fighting to yellow in the years to come.
Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM)
2nd Tour de France participation
Making his second Tour appearances after failing to finish in 2011, Poels will be hoping to add to his young rider classification wins at the Tour of Luxembourg and Tirreno-Adriatico in 2012. With his Vacansoleil-DCM team chasing stage wins, a good first week for Poels could see the team shift their focus onto providing the platform for white jersey success. For many fans they will have a soft spot for the Dutch team after last year’s horrific crash in which Johnny Hoogerland was hit by a media car during Stage 9 and flung into a barbwire fence. Hoogerland amazingly not only finished the stage, but also the Tour. He arrived in Saint-Flour after the crash to applause and with the maillot pois awaiting him. Vacansoleil-DCM will be hoping for more podium appearances in 2012 but without the crashes. Poels could be a repeat offender on the podium this year but that will rest upon how he manages to remain competitive over the three weeks. he looks the most likely of the young riders to initiate attacks as he chases stage wins and as a result may find himself in a high overall position in the race for the white jersey
Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) D.O.B. 24.04.1987
3rd Tour de France participation
The Estonian has won two previous youth classifications which both came in 2011. This was achieved at Paris-Nice and the Critérium International in which he finished 3rd and 4th respectively. After his Tour appearance last year, Taaramäe went to the Vuelta and won Stage 14 to show he could reproduce his efforts in July. However the Vuelta does not award a youth classification jersey and he had to settle for a stage win only. These results showed that Taaramäe is capable of riding stage races and registering results when doing so. Continuing his form from 2011, Taaramäe won the Estonian ITT national championships for a third time after finishing 2nd overall at the Vuelta a Andalucía and 3rd at Étoile de Bessèges. A stage win at the Tour would be a bonus to the Cofidis rider but a long stint in the white jersey looks more likely. Up against Edvald Boasson Hagen in the opening prologue, Taaramäe would be unlikely to be called up the presentation in Liege as the Norwegian is a superior time trailer and is also eligible for the white jersey.
Taaramäe showed that he can compete in Grand Tours in 2011 with his one day stint in white at the Tour and his Vuelta stage win. It is expected that he builds upon his success and 2012 looks to be the year he can ascend to the next level and become the 30th rider to win this classification. Up against the Rabobank team, Taaramäe may find himself isolated and allies will be hard to come by. He won't be the only rider to experience this and therefore his strong result last year means he is just ahead of the rest. He will be known to the peloton after having twice ridden the Tour and therefore lacks an element of surprise but his ITT prowess holds him in good stead for white.
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) D.O.B. 12.08. 1988
2nd Tour de France participation
Van Garderen will be eligible for the young riders classification again in 2013 but still remains a favourite for the classification this year. The only thing that detracts from his chances is that his team mate Cadel Evans will be chasing yellow. That does not mean Van Garderen will necessarily suffer in his quest for white but his efforts will need to be measured in order to ensure that he is at the Tour for Evans and not himself. However Rolland showed last year that although he was riding as a domestique for Thomas Voeckler his personal aspirations were not heavily affected by this role. Van Garderen will have taken notice of this and also looks to be the greatest ITT threat of the young riders who can match it in the mountains with the older riders. In this discipline Van Garderen may push himself that little bit further so that in the mountains he remains a key ally for Evans. Should Evans have a disastrous Tour, Van Garderen will find himself as the GC man for BMC and could find himself a smokey for a white-yellow double. The experience he gained from last year will be crucial as Van Garderen can draw upon that experience and know how far he can push himself while still remaining a key climbing ally for Evans.
Eligible Riders for the 2012 Tour de France Youth Classification
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) 05.17. 1987 (3rd)*
Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil-DCM) 13.02.1987 (1st)
Anthony Delaplace (Saur-Sojasun) 11.08.1989 (2nd)
Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) 02.12.1987 (1st) Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Nissan) 24.05.1988 (2nd)
Cyril Gautier (Europcar) 26.09.1987 (3rd)
Patrick Gretsch (Argos-Shimano) 07.04.1987 (1st)
Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 07.10.1987 (1st)
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) 11.05.1988 (1st)
Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank Cycling Team) 07.06.1987 (1st)
Domenique Nerz (Liquigas-Cannondale) 25.08.1989 (1st)
Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale) 13.01.1987 (3rd)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Bigmat) 29.05.1990 (1st)
Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) 01.10.1987 (2nd) Anthony Roux (FDJ-Bigmat) 18.04.1987 (3rd)
Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) 26.01.1990 (1st) Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) 24.04.1987 (3rd)
Rafael Valls Ferri (Vacansoleil-DCM) 27.06.1987 (2nd)
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) 12.08.1988 (2nd)
Arthur Vichot (FDJ-Bigmat) 26.11.1988 (1st)
Romain Zingle (Cofidis) 29.1.1987 (2nd)
Cyril Gautier (Europcar) 26.09.1987 (3rd)
Patrick Gretsch (Argos-Shimano) 07.04.1987 (1st)
Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 07.10.1987 (1st)
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) 11.05.1988 (1st)
Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank Cycling Team) 07.06.1987 (1st)
Domenique Nerz (Liquigas-Cannondale) 25.08.1989 (1st)
Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale) 13.01.1987 (3rd)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Bigmat) 29.05.1990 (1st)
Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) 01.10.1987 (2nd) Anthony Roux (FDJ-Bigmat) 18.04.1987 (3rd)
Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) 26.01.1990 (1st) Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) 24.04.1987 (3rd)
Rafael Valls Ferri (Vacansoleil-DCM) 27.06.1987 (2nd)
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) 12.08.1988 (2nd)
Arthur Vichot (FDJ-Bigmat) 26.11.1988 (1st)
Romain Zingle (Cofidis) 29.1.1987 (2nd)
*Note: Tour appearances in brackets
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