Young rider classification in the Tour de France recent years, only cyclists below 26 years are eligible. From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification (best rider in the overall, points and climbing competitions). In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the "young rider classification". Any neo-professional (less than three years professional) competed in this classification, which was calculated using the rankings for the general classification. The leader in the young rider classification wore a white jersey. The rules for the young rider classification changed in 1983, when the competition was
General classification in the Tour de France the race. There is no copyright on the yellow jersey and it has been imitated by many other races, although not always for the best rider overall: in the Tour of Benelux yellow is worn by the best young rider. In professional surf, the current male and female leaders of the World Surf League get to wear a yellow jersey on all the heats of a tour stop. In American English it is sometimes referred to as the "mellow johnny", a mispronunciation of its French name originally by Lance Armstrong, who wore it many times while riding in the 1999-2005