2009 Tour of California way as the general classification, but only young cyclists (under 23) are in. The leader of the young rider classification received a white jersey. The fifth jersey was not awarded on the basis of a time or points-based classification. It was for each stage's "Most Courageous" rider, akin to the combativity award in the Tour de France. The rider who received this award wore a blue jersey in the next stage. Unlike the Tour de France's combativity award, there was no overall award given. There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three
Doping at the 2007 Tour de France Rasmussen's sacking whilst wearing the yellow jersey (no rider had previously been withdrawn from the race while leading), the mood became more pessimistic, with the exception of Tour director Christian Prudhomme who publicly regarded the Dane's withdrawal as "the best thing that can happen to the Tour. The race will go on for the rest of the riders and we believe it would be an insult to them to stop the race. We believe the general classification is much better now than it was." Prudhomme's reaction was in contrast to the French newspapers. "France Soir" ran a mock death notice