vainqueur tour 1978

Tour de France 1978 : classement et résultats

Classement général du tour de france 1978, maillots distinctifs du tour de france 1978, etapes du tour de france 1978.

Prologue (Leiden - Leiden, 5,2 km en contre-la-montre individuel)

Etape 1a (Leiden - St Willebrord, 135 km)

Etape 1b (St Willebrord - Bruxelles, 100 km)

Etape 2 (Bruxelles - St Amand les Eaux, 199 km)

Etape 3 (St Amand les Eaux - St Germain en Laye, 243,5 km)

Etape 4 (Evreux - Caen, 153 km en contre-la-montre par équipe)

Etape 5 (Caen - Mazé Montgeoffroy, 244 km)

Etape 6 (Mazé Montgeoffroy - Poitiers, 166,2 km)

Etape 7 (Poitiers - Bordeaux, 242 km)

Etape 8 (St Emilion - Ste Foye la Grande, 59,3 km en contre-la-montre individuel)

Etape 9 (Bordeaux - Biarritz, 233 km)

Etape 10 (Biarritz - Pau, 191,5 km)

Etape 11 (Pau - St Lary Soulan, 161 km)

Etape 12 (Valence d'Agen - Toulouse, 96 km)

Etape 13 (Figeac - Super Besse, 221 km)

Etape 14 (Besse en Chandesse - Puy de Dôme, 52,5 km en contre-la-montre individuel)

Etape 15 (St Dier d'Auvergne - St Etienne, 196 km)

Etape 16 (St Etienne - Alpe d'Huez, 240,5 km)

Etape 17 (Grenoble - Morzine, 225 km)

Etape 18 (Morzine - Lausanne, 137,5 km)

Etape 19 (Lausanne - Belfort, 181,5 km)

Etape 20 (Metz - Nancy, 72 km en contre-la-montre individuel)

Etape 21 (Epernay - Senlis, 207,5 km)

Etape 22 (St Germain en Laye - Paris/Champs Elysées, 161,5 km)

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37. Tour de France Automobile 1978

Final results.

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Palmarès du Tour de France : les gagnants de la Grande Boucle

Comme le Colombien Egan Bernal, vainqueur de l’édition 2019, 62 coureurs ont remporté le Tour de France depuis 1903. En attendant de savoir qui soulèvera le trophée sur les Champs-Élysées en 2020, coup de projecteur sur des champions qui ont marqué l’histoire de la Grande Boucle.

• Guillaume Fournier ,
• le 05/02/2020 à 09:11
• Modifié le 05/02/2020 à 09:11

Lecture en 4 min.

Bernard Hinault lors du Tour de France 1985.

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Ils sont seulement une poignée de privilégiés à avoir eu la chance de goûter à la victoire finale sur le Tour de France , la reine des compétitions cyclistes. Ainsi, en 106 éditions depuis 1903, seulement 62 coureurs ont eu cet immense honneur. Si certains n’ont pas particulièrement marqué l’histoire de la Grande Boucle, d’autres sont restés durablement dans la mémoire collective de ce sport.

→ CARTE. Parcours du Tour de France 2021 : découvrez la carte des étapes

► Maurice Garin, à jamais le premier

Il ne l’a gagné qu’une fois mais cette victoire suffit pour lui offrir une place à part dans l’histoire de la compétition. Maurice Garin est le vainqueur de la première édition du Tour de France.

→ RÉSULTATS. Tour de France 2020 : retrouvez le classement général et tous les résultats

En 1903, le Français s’impose en remportant trois des six étapes de l’épreuve. Il ouvre aussi le compteur des vainqueurs français dans la compétition. C’est d’ailleurs la France qui compte le plus grand nombre de victoires (36) avec 21 vainqueurs différents, devant la Belgique avec 18 victoires et 10 vainqueurs différents.

→ DÉCOUVRIR. Parcours du Tour de France 2020 : la carte des étapes dévoilée

► Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault et Indurain, le club des quatre

Ils sont quatre à détenir la palme du plus grand nombre de victoires sur la Grande Boucle, les Français Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963 et 1964) et Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 et 1985), le Belge Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 et 1974) et l’Espagnol Miguel Indurain (de 1991 à 1995) ont tous gagné cinq fois l’épreuve. Difficile de dire qui a été le plus grand coureur de l’épreuve, cette notion étant continuellement débattue avec passion par les amateurs de la petite reine.

→ A LIRE. Tour de France 2020 : le profil complet des étapes de cette édition

Seul Indurain (12 participations) a gagné ses cinq couronnes d’affilée. Mais Eddy Merckx est celui qui présente le meilleur ratio participation/victoire avec cinq sacres en sept participations seulement. À noter que « le Cannibale » est également le seul à avoir remporté la même année le classement général, le maillot vert et le grand prix de la montagne, en 1969.

► Lance Amstrong, le plus controversé

De 1997 à 2005, le coureur américain a régné sur le Tour comme personne ne l’avait fait avant lui. La domination de Lance Amstrong débute lors de l’édition 1999, c’est alors la sixième participation du Texan. Jusque-là, il n’a fini le Tour qu’une seule fois, en 1995, à une anonyme 36e place.

→ À LIRE. Lance Amstrong va perdre ses sept titres du Tour de France

Pourtant, pendant sept ans, Lance Amstrong va s’imposer comme le leader omnipotent du Tour. Année après année, il impose sa loi sur la compétition en ne laissant que des miettes à ses concurrents. Pourtant en 2012, le « boss », comme il est surnommé, se voit retirer ses sept couronnes. En cause, des contrôles rétroactifs et les déclarations de l’agence antidopage américaine, qui l’accuse d’avoir utilisé de l’EPO et des stéroïdes, des substances interdites, tout au long de la période 1999-2005.

Le champion déchu finit par avouer et son nom est effacé du palmarès. Fait nouveau, ses titres ne sont pas réattribués au second de chaque édition. Il y a donc sept Tours de France qui n’ont officiellement aucun vainqueur.

► Raymond Poulidor, le maudit

Il est apparu huit fois sur le podium final du Tour de France sans jamais monter sur la première marche… Raymond Poulidor est resté célèbre dans l’imaginaire des Français comme l’éternel deuxième. Celui qui n’a jamais porté le maillot jaune de leader a acquis une immense popularité dans les années 1960.

Issu d’un milieu populaire, « Poupou » est décédé le 13 novembre 2019 des suites d’une insuffisance cardiaque à l’âge de 83 ans. Il restera à jamais dans le cœur des Français, comme l’a prouvé l’hommage qui lui a été rendu en 2016 pour ses 80 ans lors du passage du Tour à Limoges.

► Prime à la jeunesse

Le Tour de France est une épreuve physique hors normes, un combat de trois semaines au bout de soi-même. Si certains mettent du temps pour pouvoir affronter cette épreuve, d’autres apparaissent assez mûrs assez tôt. Ce fut notamment le cas du Français Henri Cornet, qui s’imposa en 1904 à seulement 19 ans et 352 jours ; ce qui fait de lui le plus jeune vainqueur d’une épreuve qu’il ne remportera plus par la suite.

→ A LIRE. Tour de France : 5 dates pour plus de cent ans d’histoire

Au jeu de la précocité, le Colombien Egan Bernal , vainqueur de l’édition 2019, n’est pas mal non plus. À 22 ans et 196 jours, il est le troisième plus jeune vainqueur de la course et le plus jeune de l’après-guerre.

► Palmarès complet du Tour de France

2019-1999 :

2019 : Egan Bernal (Col), 2018 : Geraint Thomas (Gbr), 2017-2015 : Christopher Froome (Gbr), 2014 : Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), 2013 : Christopher Froome (Gbr), 2012 : Bradley Wiggins (Gbr), 2011 : Cadel Evans (Aus), 2010 : Andy Schleck (Lux), 2009 : Alberto Contador (Esp), 2008 : Carlos Sastre (Esp), 2007 : Alberto Contador (Esp), 2006 : Oscar Pereiro (Esp), 2005-1999 : Non attribué (Lance Amstrong destitué)

1998-1978 :

1998 : Marco Pantani (Ita), 1997 : Jan Ulrich (All), 1996 : Bjarne Riis (Dan), 1995-1991 : Miguel Indurain (Esp), 1990-1989 : Greg LeMond (Usa), 1988 : Pedro Delgado (Esp), 1987 : Stephen Roche (Irl), 1986 : Greg LeMond (Usa), 1985 : Bernard Hinault (Fra), 1984-1983 : Laurent Fignon (Fra), 1982-1981 : Bernard Hinault (Fra), 1980 : Joop Zoetemelk (Pbs), 1979-1978 : Bernard Hinault (Fra)

1977-1947 :

1977 : Bernard Thévenet (Fra), 1976 : Lucien Van Impe (Bel), 1975 : Bernard Thévenet (Fra), 1974 : Eddy Merckx (Bel), 1973 : Luis Ocana (Esp), 1972-1969 : Eddy Merckx (Bel), 1968 : Jan Janssen (Pbs), 1967 : Roger Pingeon (Fra), 1966 : Lucien Aimar (Fra), 1965 : Felice Gimondi (Ita), 1964-1961 : Jacques Anquetil (Fra), 1960 : Gastone Nencini (Ita), 1959 : Frederico Bahamontes (Esp), 1958 : Charly Gaul (Lux), 1957 : Jacques Anquetil (Fra), 1956 : Roger Walkowiak (Fra), 1955-1953 : Louison Bobet (Fra), 1952 : Fausto Coppi (Ita), 1951 : Hugo Koblet (Sui), 1950 : Ferdi Kübler (Sui), 1949 : Fausto Coppi (Ita), 1948 : Gino Bartali (Ita), 1947 : Jean Robic (Fra)

1939-1903 :

1939 : Sylvère Maes (Bel), 1938 : Gino Bartali (Ita), 1937 : Roger Labépie (Fra), 1936 : Sylvère Maes (Bel), 1935 : Romain Maes (Bel), 1934 : Antonin Magne (Fra), 1933 : Georges Speicher (Fra), 1932 : André Leducq (Fra), 1931 : Antonin Magne (Fra), 1930 : André Leducq (Fra), 1929 : Maurice Dewaele (Bel), 1928-1927 : Nicolas Frantz (Lux), 1926 : Lucien Buysse (Bel), 1925-1924 : Ottavio Bottechia (Ita), 1923 : Henri Pélissier (Fra), 1922 : Firmin Lambot (Bel), 1921 : Léon Scieur (Bel), 1920 : Philippe Thys (Bel), 1919 : Firmin Lambot (Bel), 1914-1913 : Philippe Thys (Bel), 1912 : Odile Defraye (Bel), 1911 : Gustave Garrigou (Fra), 1910 : Octave Lapize (Fra), 1909 : François Faber (Lux), 1908-1907 : Lucien Petit-Breton (Fra), 1906 : René Pottier (Fra), 1905 : Louis Trousselier (Fra), 1904 : Henri Cornet (Fra), 1903 : Maurice Garin (Fra)

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• Tour de France

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Search team, search race, tour de france 1978  |  stage overview.

65th edition 29 June 1978 - 23 July 1978

• General Classification
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1977 Tour de France

64th edition: june 30 - july 24, 1977, results, stages with running gc, history, video and photos of the 1977 tour de france.

1976 Tour | 1978 Tour | 1977 Tour Quick Facts | Tour de France database | Final GC | Stage Results with Running GC | The Story of the 1977 Tour de France | Video

Map of the 1977 Tour de France

Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2020: The Tour During Covid-19 - Better Late Than Never is available as an audiobook here .

Quick Facts:

Total distance was 4,092.9 km and was ridden at an average speed of 35.585 km/hr.

There were 100 starters and 53 classified finishers

This was Eddy Merckx's last Tour.

Didi Thurau took the lead from the start, his intention being to keep it until the Tour reached Germany (stage 13), which he did.

Thurau, only 22, was running out of gas and had to surrender the Yellow Jersey stage 16 to Bernard Thévenet.

Stage 17 to the top of L'Alpe d'Huez is legendary because Thévenet and Kuiper fought such a hard battle to the top, while the likely winner of the stage and Tour, Lucien van Impe, was hit by a car.

Complete Final 1977 Tour de France General Classification:

• Hennie Kuiper (TI-Raleigh) @ 48sec
• Lucien van Impe (Lejeune-BP) @ 3min 32sec
• Francisco Galdos (KAS) @ 7min 45sec
• Didi Thurau (TI-Raleigh) @ 12min 24sec
• Eddy Merckx (Fiat) @ 12min 38sec
• Michel Laurent (Peugeot-Esso) @ 17min 42sec
• Joop Zoetemelk (Miko-Mercier) @ 19min 22sec
• Raymond Delisle (Miko-Mercier) @ 32min 32sec
• Alain Meslet (Gitane-Campagnolo) @ 27min 31sec
• Raymond Martin (Miko-Mercier) @ 28min 35sec
• Bert Pronk (TI-Raleigh) @ 30min 6sec
• Joaquim Agostinho (Teka) @ 33min 13sec
• Gonzalo Aja (Teka) @ 36min 11sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane (Gitane-Campagnolo) @ 36min 42sec
• José Martins (KAS) @ 38min 53sec
• Edouard Janssens (Fiat) @ 46min 13sec
• Enrique Martinez-Heredia (KAS) @ 47min 30sec
• Pedro Torres (Teka) @ 47min 39sec
• Bernard Vallet (Miko-Mercier) @ 48min 41sec
• Ferdinand Julien (Lejeune-BP) @ 49min 32sec
• Christian Seznec (Miko-Mercier) @ 51min 39sec
• Vicente Lopez (KAS) @ 52min 46sec
• Régis Ovion (Peugeot-Esso) @ 54min 55sec
• Luis Ocaña (Frisol) @ 1hr 2min 9sec
• Henk Lubberding (TI-Raleigh) @ 1hr 2min 13sec
• Fernando Mandes (Teka) @ 1hr 2min 36sec
• Jacques Esclassan (Peugeot-Esso) @ 1hr 2min 54sec
• Jos De Schoenmaecker (Fiat) @ 1hr 8min 11sec
• Paul Wellens (Frisol) @ 1hr 8min 12sec
• Gerrie Knetemann (TI-Raleigh) @ 1hr 11min 23sec
• José Enrique Cima (KAS) @ 1hr 15min 30sec
• Roland Berland (Gitane-Campagnolo) @ 1hr 15min 41sec
• Bernard Bourreau (Peugeot-Esso) @ 1hr 23min 7sec
• Jean-Pierre Ganguillaume (Peugeot-Esso) @ 1hr 25min 37sec
• Eugène Plet (Lejeune-BP) @ 1hr 25min 50sec
• Roger Legeay (Lejeune-BP) @ 1hr 33min 11sec
• Giovanni Cavalcanti (Bianchi) @ 1hr 33min 57sec
• Giacinto Santambrogio (Bianchi) @ 1hr 35min 24sec
• Guy Sibille (Peugeot-Esso) @ 1hr 36min 43sec
• Barry Hoban (Miko-Mercier) @ 1hr 39min 30sec
• André Chalmel (Gitane-Campagnolo) @ 1hr 44min 6sec
• Michel Le Denmat (Lejeune-BP) @ 1hr 44min 46sec
• Andrés Gandarias (Teka) @ 1hr 49min 48sec
• Antonio Menendez (KAS) @ 1hr 50min 38sec
• José De Cauwer (TI-Raleigh) @ 1hr 56min 1sec
• Luis Balague (Teka) @ 2hr 1min 58sec
• Jos Huysmans (Fiat) @ 2hr 6min 49sec
• Willy Singer (Bianchi) @ 2hr 8min 6sec
• Robert Bouloux (Fiat) @ 2hr 12min 55sec
• Cees Bal (Fiat) @ 2hr 22min 18sec
• Gerben Karstens (TI-Raleigh) @ 2hr 23min 47sec
• Roger Loysch (Frisol) @ 2hr 24min 8sec

Climbers' Competition:

• Hennie Kuiper (TI-Raleigh): 174
• Pedro Torres (Teka): 144
• Bernard Thévenet (Peugeot-Esso): 114
• Joop Zoetemelk (Miko-Mercier): 80
• Francisco Galdos (KAS): 53
• Antonio Menendez (KAS): 52
• Joaquim Agostinho (Teka): 42
• Didi thurau (TI-Raleigh): 42
• Raymond Delisle (Miko-Mercier): 42

Points Competition:

• Giacinto Santambrogio (Bianchi-Campagnolo): 140
• Didi Thurau (TI-Raleigh): 137
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane (Gitane-Campagnolo): 128
• Eddy Merckx (Fiat): 93
• Barry Hoban (Miko-Mercier): 91
• Hennie Kuiper (TI-Raleigh): 76
• Bernard Thévenet (Peugeot-Esso): 65
• Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (Peugeot-Esso): 61
• Lucien van Impe (Lejeune-BP): 60

Team Classification:

• TI-Raleigh: 347hr 41min 19sec
• Miko-Mercier @ 13min 29sec
• KAS @ 20min 45sec
• Peugeot-Esso @ 25min 2sec
• Teka @ 56min 19sec
• Fiat @ 1hr 8min 5sec
• Lejeune-BP @ 1hr 14min 6sec
• Gitane-Campagnolo @ 1hr 28min 30sec
• Frisol @ 3hr 5min 34sec
• Bianchi @ 2hr 54min 6sec

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1977 Tour de France stage results with running GC:

Running GC standings reflect the standings as they were reported at the time. 10-minute penalties for doping that were imposed upon Joop Zoetemelk and Joaquim Agostinho are only accounted for in the final GC standings.

Prologue: Thursday, June 30, Fleurance 5 km Individual Time Trial

• Didi Thurau: 6min 16.07sec
• Gerrie Knetemann @ 4sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 8sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 11sec
• Joseph Bruyère s.t.
• Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 12sec
• Ferdi Bracke s.t.
• Michel Laurent @ 13sec
• Wilfried Wesemael s.t.
• Lucien van Impe @ 14sec

GC after the prologue: same times and placings as prologue.

Stage 1: Friday, July 1, Fleurence - Auch, 237 km

• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane: 7hr 9min 1sec
• Jacques Esclassan s.t.
• Rik van Linden s.t.
• Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
• Didi Thurau s.t.
• André Chalmel s.t.
• Eddy Merkcx s.t.
• Régis Delépine s.t.,
• Lucien van Impe s.t.

GC after Stage 1:

• Didi Thurau: 7hr 15min 17sec
• Joseph Bruyère @ 11sec
• Joaquim Agostinho s.t.
• Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 12sxec
• Wilfried Wesemael @ 13sec
• Michel Laurent s.t.
• Chraly Rouxel @ 16sec

Stage 2: Saturday, July 2, Auch - Pau, 253 km

• Didi Thurau: 8hr 11min 8sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane s.t.
• Eddy Merckx s.t.
• Charly Rouxel s.t.
• Bernard Thévenet s.t.
• Julian Andiano s.t.
• Gonzalo Aja s.t.
• Francisco Galdos s.t.
• Hennie Kuiper s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

• Didi Thurau: 15hr 26min 25sec
• Charly Rouxel @ 16sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 18sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 19sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 31sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 31sec
• Alain Meslet s.t.

Stage 3: Sunday, July 3, Oloron Sainte Marie - Vitoria, 248.2 km

• José Nazabal: 7hr 35min 30sec
• Rik van Linden @ 5min 15sec
• Patrick Sercu s.t.
• Theo Smit s.t.
• Jan Raas s.t.
• Régis Delépine s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

• Didi Thurau: 23hr 7min 10sec
• Charly Rouxel @ 26sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 32sec

Stage 4: Monday, July 4, Vitoria - Seignosse le Penon, 256 km

• Régis Delépine: 7hr 35min 59sec
• José De Cauwer s.t.
• Castelletti s.t.
• Roland Berland s.t.
• Roger Legeay s.t.
• Fernando Mendes s.t.
• Edouard Janssens @ 5sec
• Patrick Perret @ 2min 20sec
• Jacques Escalssan @ 3min 52sec

GC after Stage 4:

• Didi Thurau: 30hr 46min 51sec
• Pierre-Raymnd Villmiane @ 31sec

Stage 5A: Tuesday, July 5, Morcenx - Bordeaux, 138.5 km

• Jacques Escalssan: 3hr 38min 5sec
• Gerben Karstens s.t.
• Barry Hoban s.t.
• Piet Van Katwijk s.t.
• Willy Tierlinck s.t.

GC after Stage 5A:

• Didi Thurau: 34hr 24min 56sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 28sec

Stage 5B: Tuesday, July 5, Bordeaux (Circuit du Lac) 30.2 km Individual Time Trial

• Didi Thurau: 39min 24sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 50sec
• Gerrie Knetemann @ 1min 5sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 1min 6sec
• Joseph Bruyère @ 1min 9sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 1min 17sec
• Michel Laurent @ 1min 21sec
• Fedor Den Hartog @ 1min 26sec
• Roy Schuiten @ 1min 30sec
• Alain Meslet @ 1min 34sec

GC after Stage 5B:

• Didi Thurau: 35hr 4min 20sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 58sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 1min 25sec
• Michel Laurent @ 1min 34sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 1min 49sec
• Alain Meslet @ 2min 6sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 2min 7sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 2min 12sec
• Raymond Delisle @2 in 32sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 2min 47sec

Stage 6: Thursday, July 7, Bordeaux - Limoges, 225.5 km

• Jan Raas: 6hr 40sec
• Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 10sec
• Giacinto Santambrogio s.t.
• Hennie kuiper s.t.
• Jacques Bossis s.t.
• Régis Ovion s.t.
• Bernard Vallet s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

• Didi Thurau: 41hr 5min 19sec
• Michel Laurent @ 1min 25sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 1min 40sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 2min 32sec

Stage 7A: Friday, July 8, Jaunay Clan - Angers, 139.5 km

• Patrick Sercu: 3hr 45min 24sec
• Rik Van Linden s.t.
• Schepmans s.t.
• Bernard Bourreau s.t.
• Jacques Escalssan s.t.

GC after Stage 7A:

• Didi Thurau: 44hr 50min 43sec
• Alain Meslet @ 2min 5sec

Stage 7B: Friday, July 8, Angers 4k Team time trial.

Results earned for time bonuses for the first three teams, elapsed time counted only towards team GC

• Fiat: 4min 49sec
• Peugeot @ 11sec
• TI-Raleigh @ 28sec
• Frisol s.t.
• Gitane @ 37sec
• Mercier s.t. (actually tied with Gitane for 5th place)
• Lejeune-BP @ 44sec
• Bianchi @ 49sec
• KAS @ 52sec
• Teka @ 1min 30sec

GC after Stage 7B

• Didi Thurau: 44hr 50min 40sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 51sec
• Michel Laurent @ 1min 22sec
• Alain Meslet @ 2min 9sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 2min 10sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 2min 15sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 2min 35sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 2min 50sec

Stage 8: Saturday, July 9, Angers-Lorient, 246.5 km

• Giacinto Santambrogio: 6hr 32min 41sec
• Henk Lubberding s.t.
• Maurice Le Guilloux s.t.
• Antoine Gutierrez s.t.
• Bernard Quilfen s.t.
• Tullio Rossi s.t.
• Eugène Plet @ 3sec

GC after Stage 8:

• Didi Thurau: 51hr 23min 32sec
• Raymond Deslisle @ 2min 35sec

Stage 9: Sunday, July 10, Lorient - Rennes, 187 km

• Klaus-Peter Thaler: 5hr 7mn 35sec
• Patrick Béon s.t.
• Gerven Karstens s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

• Didi Thurau: 56hr 31min 8sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 1min 22sec
• Michel Laurent @ 2min 52sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 3min 2sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 40sec

Stage 10: Monday, July 11, Bagnoles de l'Orne - Rouen, 174 km

• Fedor Den Hartog: 4hr 49min 38sec
• Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 20sec
• Jean Chassang s.t.
• Edouard Janssens s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

• Didi Thurau: 61hr 21min 6sec

Stage 11: Tuesday, July 12, Rouen - Roubaix, 242.5 km

• Jean-Pierre Danguillaume: 7hr 7min 3sec
• Roy Schuiten @ 7sec

GC after Stage 11:

• Didi Thurau: 68hr 28min 16sec

Stage 12: Wednesday, July 13, Roubaix - Charleroi, 192.5 km

• Patrick Sercu: 4hr 32min 38sec
• Jacques Escalssan @ 6min 23sec

GC after stage 12:

• Didi Thurau: 73hr 7min 17sec

Stage 13A: Friday, July 15, Freiburg im Breisgau - Frieburg im Breisgau, 46km.

• Patrick Sercu: 56min 42sec
• Guy Sibille s.t.

GC after Stage 13A:

• Didi Thurau: 74hr 3min 59sec

Stage 13B: Friday, July 15, Altkirch - Besançon, 159.5 km

• Jean-Pierre Danguillaume: 4hr 6min 0sec
• Bert Pronk s.t.
• Vicente Lopez-Carril s.t.
• Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 1min 21sec

GC after Stage 13B:

• Didi Thurau: 78hr 11min 20sec
• Joop Zoetemelk s.t.

Stage 14: Saturday, July 16, Besançon - Thonon les Bains, 230 km

• Bernard Quilfen: 6hr 15min 46sec
• Jacques Escalssan @ 3min 14sec
• Didi thurau s.t.

GC after Stage 14:

• Didi Thurau: 84hr 30min 20sec
• Michel Laurent @ 2min 50sec

Stage 15A: Sunday, July 17, Thonon les Bains - Morzine, 105 km

• Paul Wellens: 2hr 55min 59sec
• Glauco Santoni @ 3min 1sec
• Giacinto Santambrogio @ 3min 8sec
• Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 3min 8sec
• Chirstian Seznec s.t.
• Antonio Menedez s.t.

GC after stage 15A:

• Didi Thurau: 87hr 29min 27sec
• Hennie kuiper @ 1min 40sec
• Michel Laurent @ 2in 52sec

Stage 15B: Sunday, July 17, Morzine - Avoriaz 14 km time Hill Climb

• Lucien van Impe: 33min 49sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 20sec
• Joop Zoetemelk. Positive for dope, penalized 10 minutes and relegated. Running GC won't reflect this time loss.
• Michel Laurent@ 22sec
• Gerrie Knetemann @ 23sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 36sec
• Raymond Martin @ 49sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 51sec
• Bert Pronk @ 1min 6sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 1min 16sec

15. Didi Thurau @ 1min 53sec

GC after Stage 15B:

• Bernard Thévenet 88hr 4min 58sec
• Didi Thurau @ 11sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 25sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 33sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 49sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 1min 13sec.
• Michel Laurent @ 1min 32sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 1in 56sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 3min 45sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 3min 49sec

Stage 16: Monday, July 18, Morzine - Chamonix, 121 km

• Didi Thurau: 3hr 29min 52sec
• Sebastian Pozo s.t.
• José Martins s.t.

GC after Stage 16:

• Bernard Thévenet: 91hr 34min 50sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 1min 56sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 3min 2sec
• Michel Laurent @ 4min 9sec
• Pierre-Raymond Villemiane @ 11min 16sec

Stage 17: Tuesday, July 19, Chamonix - L'Alpe d'Huez , 184.5 km

• Hennie Kuiper: 6hr 20sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 41sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 2min 6sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 2min 59sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 40sec
• Raymond Martin @ 8min 15sec
• Sebastian Pozo @ 8min 39sec
• Joaquin Agostinho @ 8min 44sec
• Michel Laurent @ 9min 29sec
• Pedro Torres @ 10min 49sec

GC after stage 17:

• Bernard Thévenet: 97hr 35min 51sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 8sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 1min 58sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 4min 14sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 5min 12sec
• Didi Thurau @ 12min 2sec
• Michel Laurent @ 12min 57sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 14min 54sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 16min 12sec
• Raymond Martin @ 22min 59sec

Stage 18: Wednesday, July 20, Rossignol Voiron - St. Etienne, 199.5 km

Because of dope positives, this stage has no 1st and 2nd place.

• Joaquim Agostinho: 5hr 56min 5sec. Stage win revoked for dope positive
• Antonio Menendez @ 3min 17sec. 2nd place also revoked.
• Eddy Merckx @ 3min 30sec
• Régis Ovion @ 7min 59sec
• Jascques Esclassan s.t.
• Christian Seznec s.t.
• Giovanni Cavalcanti s.t.

GC after Stage 18:

• Bernard Thévenet: 103hr 39min 55sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 5min 12sec.
• Eddy Merckx @ 11min 33sec
• Didi Thurau @ 12min 7sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 14min 59sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 21min 33sec

Stage 19: Thursday, July 21, St.Trivier - Dijon, 171.5 km

• Gerrie Knetemann: 4hr 29min 17sec
• Cees Bal @ 1sec
• Gerben Karstens @ 56sec
• Huysmans s.t.
• Josée De Cauwer s.t.
• Chalmel s.t.

GC after Stage 19:

• Bernard Thévenet: 109hr 10min 8sec
• Didi Thurau @ 12min 57sec
• Michel laurent @ 12min 57sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 21min 33sec

Stage 20: Friday, July 22, Dijon 50 km Individual Time Trial

• Bernard Thévenet: 1hr 10min 45sec
• Didi Thurau@ 23sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 28sec
• Gerrie Knetemann @ 43sec
• Joseph Bruyère @ 47sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 1min 2sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 1mn 19sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 1min 24sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 3min 4sec
• Bernard Vallet @ 3min 59sec

GC after Stage 20:

• Bernard Thévenet: 109hr 20min 53sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 35sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 3min 22sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 7min 18sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 9min 36sec
• Didi Thurau @ 12min 30sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 12min 35sec
• Michel Laurent @ 17min 37sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 20min 44sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 2min 52sec

Stage 21: Saturday, July 23, Montereau - Versailles, 141.5 km

• Gerrie Knetemann: 3hr 59min 22sec
• Guy Sibille @ 19sec
• Joseph Huysmans s.t.

GC after Stage 21:

• Bernard Thévenet: 113hr 20min 34sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 36sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 9min 17sec
• Michel Laurent @ 17min 18sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 22min 52sec

Stage 22A: Sunday, July 24, Paris 6 km Individual Time Trial (on Champs Elysées)

• Didi Thurau: 7min 52sec
• Gerrie Knetemann @ 3sec
• Bernard Thévenet @ 6sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 9sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 16sec
• Hennie Kuiper @ 18sec
• José-Enrique Cima s.t.
• Bert Pronk @ 19sec

GC after Stage 22A:

• Bernard Thévenet: 113hr 28min 32sec
• Hennie kuiper @ 48sec
• Lucien van Impe @ 3min 32sec
• Francisco Galdos @ 7min 45sec
• Joop Zoetemelk @ 9min 22sec
• Didi Thurau @ 12min 24sec
• Eddy Merckx @ 12min 38sec
• Michel Laurent @ 17min 42sec
• Raymond Delisle @ 21min 32sec
• Joaquim Agostinho @ 23min 13sec

Stage 22B (final stage) : Sunday, July 24, Champs Elysées Circuit Race, 90.7 km

• Alain Meslet: 2hr 9min 4sec
• Gerben Karstens @ 49sec
• Barry Hoban @ 54sec
• Michel Le Denmat s.t.

Complete Final 1977 Tour de France General Classification

The Story of the 1977 Tour de France:

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will make the purchase easy.

The Tour maintained its 4,000 kilometer length, this year 4,096 to be exact. There were 5 split stages and 7 transfers to sap the riders' strength. The Tour organizers are always tinkering with their Tour and in 1977 they decided to de-emphasize climbing after 1976's 8 back-to-back mountain stages. From a total of 5 the number of hilltop finishes was reduced to only 2. In addition, the individual time trial kilometers were increased from 89.8 to 105.2. An all-rounder with a powerful team to protect him on the flatter stages would find favor on this route. The rider who most completely fit that description was Bernard Thévenet and his black and white clad Peugeot team. Foreshadowing the disrepute that the 1977 Tour has, Thévenet was penalized for a positive dope test in the Paris–Nice stage race held in March.

The Tour's favorites were easy to ascertain. Thévenet, of course, was at the top of the list. Van Impe planned to try for a second win even though the course was less suited to his talents than the year before. Merckx was back for his last Tour. His 1977 spring added no major international victories to his palmares. The Miko-Mercier team had 2 contenders, Joop Zoetemelk and Raymond Delisle, who had moved from Peugeot. The TI-Raleigh team had Hennie Kuiper, 1975 world road champion and winner of the 1976 Tour of Switzerland.

Raleigh also had Dietrich "Didi" Thurau, who had turned professional late in 1974. He was part of the magnificent West German pursuit machine that dominated the sport at the time. He was hailed as a god by German cycling fans looking for a new Rudi Altig. He looked the part, handsome with broad shoulders. His first full year as a pro he won 5 races including his National Championship. In 1976 he won 7 races and again his National Championship. 1977 was his year: he won 25 races and had what turned out to be a stunning start to the Tour de France.

The Prologue 5-kilometer time trial in Fleurence just north of the Pyrenees was the perfect distance for one of the world's finest pursuiters. Thurau won it, beating his TI-Raleigh teammate Gerrie Knetemann by 4 seconds and Eddy Merckx by 8 seconds. Thurau's first day in his first Tour resulted in Yellow.

In the first road stage, 31 riders—a group that included Merckx, van Impe, Thévenet, Zoetemelk and Thurau—separated themselves from the rest of the pack. By finishing with this front group the young German preserved his small lead, 4 seconds on Knetemann and 7 seconds on Merckx.

While the 1977 Tour may not have been set up as a climber's Tour, climbing was there and unusually it started on stage 2. The day's 253 kilometers included the Aspin, the Tourmalet and the Aubisque. Thurau's ambitions were not unlike those of Rudi Altig back in 1964 when Altig wanted to be wearing Yellow when the Tour passed into Germany (Altig had to settle for Green that day). This year the Tour would head into Germany for stage 13 and Thurau deeply wanted to bring the Yellow Jersey to his home country. Stage 2 was a huge wall potentially ruining his chances.

On the Tourmalet, van Impe, Thévenet and Hennie Kuiper managed to get a 2-minute lead on a chasing group containing Merckx, Ocaña, Thurau and Michel Laurent. Merckx asked Thurau for help in pursuing the leaders. Merckx, being the superior descender, led down the Tourmalet and working together, they were able to regain contact with the trio on the Aubisque. The stage finished on the motor-raceway in Pau, not at the top of the Aubisque. This descent and ride into town allowed a bit of a regroupment. A lead bunch of 14 riders made it into Pau together including all of the contenders except Ocaña: Thévenet, Thurau, Merckx, Zoetemelk, van Impe, Kuiper and Delisle. Thurau, a superb trackman, won the stage and dodged the bullet. He was still in Yellow, but Merckx was only 8 seconds back. No one could feel confident with the Cannibal that close.

The next 2 stages in the mountains maintained the status quo. So, instead of unleashing a rapid-fire series of attacks in the Pyrenees the climbers basically decided to wait for the Alps to contest the race.

Stage 5b was a 30.2-kilometer individual time trial at Bordeaux. Merckx, the master of the chrono was expected to deliver a devastating ride that would give him the lead. It did not turn out that way. Thurau took about a minute out of Merckx and Thévenet and almost 2 minutes out of Zoetemelk and van Impe. He now led Merckx by 58 seconds and Thévenet by 1 minute, 25 seconds.

As with many team time trials in the Tour's history, the short 4-kilometer stage 7b race didn't count in the individual riders' times. It was a race for team classification with the riders of the top 3 teams getting small bonifications. Merckx's Fiat-sponsored squad won with Thurau's Raleighs coming in third, costing Thurau 6 seconds of his slim lead.

At this point the overall standings were thus:

Before stopping in Germany, the Tour detoured to Belgium. Patrick Sercu, whom Merckx called the most gifted and perfect rider he had ever known, won the stage into Charleroi in a 170-kilometer solo break. The peloton came in 6½ minutes later. Not too bad for a sprinter! In case people might have thought that the long break dulled the edge of Sercu's jump, he won the next stage (after a rest day) into Germany in a mass sprint with all 95 riders in the Tour finishing together.

So Thurau did wear the Yellow Jersey into Germany, satisfying the delirious fans who surrounded his hotel, screaming their joy that one of their countrymen was in Yellow. Thurau managed to keep the lead for a little while longer, but the effort so far of holding off Merckx, Thévenet and the rest of the field was starting to show.

Before the stage 15b individual time trial up the Avoriaz, the top 6 riders were very close in time:

Zoetemelk had the fastest time up the 1,833-meter high mountain but it was only later revealed that he had failed the drug test. He was penalized 10 minutes and lost his placing, making van Impe the stage winner with Thévenet only 20 seconds behind him. Merckx came in at 1 minute, 13 seconds. The tired Thurau was fifteenth at 1 minute, 53 seconds. Bernard Thévenet was now in Yellow, Thurau second at 11 seconds, Merckx third at 25 seconds.

On the stage 16 climb up the Forclaz, Thurau was dropped. He fought his way back and managed to make contact on the last climb of the day, the Montets. Once again, not being a hill-top finish, Thurau was able to get control of the situation and win the sprint. Thévenet was in the same lead group and so stayed in Yellow.

It was on stage 17 that the Tour really sorted itself out. It was a 184.5-kilometer trek across the Madeleine, the Glandon and a final ascent up L'Alpe d'Huez. The Madeleine was a preliminary that had the effect of shelling Merckx who was suffering from dysentery.

Easily escaping, van Impe romped up the Glandon and headed for the L'Alpe d'Huez with Thévenet's Yellow Jersey in mind. He was only 33 seconds behind in General Classification and his Tour win last year had changed his ambitions. Even without Guimard to push and threaten him, he wanted a second Yellow Jersey and was willing to take chances to get it.

The wind was against van Impe as he rode in the valley to the Alpe. This is where he ran into the handicap of being a small man. Van Impe just didn't have the horsepower to drive his bike through the wind the way a larger, more powerful rider could. Determined, he kept on and managed to arrive at the base of l'Alpe d'Huez alone.

This is the ride that Thévenet says was the hardest in his career. He buckled down to work and started to chase the diminutive Belgian climber. For company he had Hennie Kuiper and Joop Zoetemelk. Kuiper was sitting in fourth place at 49 seconds and Zoetemelk was fifth at 1 minute, 13 seconds. At the time, no one yet knew that Zoetemelk would be penalized for his stage 15 positive dope test. The 2 of them sat on Thévenet's wheel and let the man with the Yellow Jersey do the hard work of defending his position. The strategy worked and the gap to van Impe got smaller, finally small enough that the follow vehicles behind van Impe had to pull out. As they did so van Impe was hit by one of the television cars. Knowing that the Tour was in play, van Impe immediately got back on his bike to resume the climb, only to have his rear wheel collapse.

A little bit further down the Alpe, sensing victory, Kuiper attacked and left Thévenet and Zoetemelk. While van Impe was getting a new wheel, Kuiper raced by and then Thévenet passed him. It must have been heartbreaking for van Impe to just watch his chances for Tour victory go up the mountain along with the speeding duo. With Kuiper almost a minute up the road, Thévenet's chase was a desperate fight to retain the lead.

Kuiper won the stage, slowing as he crossed the line, and Thévenet came in 41 seconds later. Thévenet was still in Yellow by the skin of his teeth. Van Impe's loss that day was terrible. He came in 2 minutes, 6 seconds after Kuiper. He surely would have been in Yellow if he had not been hit.

Thurau came in seventeenth, 12 minutes, 32 seconds later.

Thévenet was furious with Zoetemelk and Kuiper who were willing to just sit on his wheel and let him do all the work. He called them petits coureurs , little riders. About that day, Thévenet said, "I believe that I never went as deep as in 1977, against Hennie Kuiper on L'Alpe d'Huez. That's the only time in my life I reached my limit."

The devastation wrought on the peloton by the hard stage was made clear when 30 riders finished outside the time limit and were eliminated. Patrick Sercu and Ferdi Bracke were among the dispatched.

Here was the General Classification situation after the l'Alpe d'Huez stage:

Stage 18 showed that the doping problems were perhaps a bit deeper than the public realized. The first riders to cross the line, Agostinho and Antonio Menendez, were relegated after testing positive. Merckx, coming in third, was awarded the stage victory.

Thévenet won the stage 20 time trial, Kuiper's only real chance to take the lead. Instead of gaining time on the Frenchman, Kuiper now lost 28 seconds. Barring misfortune, this put the race out of the Dutchman's reach.

Thurau won the final day's time trial, showing the depth and the talent he had, but Thévenet was only 6 seconds slower. Kuiper lost another 12 seconds to the Frenchman who in 1975 had begun a renaissance of French Tour riding that would last a decade.

This was Merckx's last Tour de France. In 1978 he rode only 5 races, winning none of them. The great man had worn himself out after entering about 1,800 races and winning over 500 of them.

Final 1977 Tour de France General Classification:

Climbers' competition:

Points competition:

In the 1977 Tour, doping was really beginning to rear its ugly head. Or, it would be more correct to write, riders who doped were caught. Ocaña, Zoetemelk, Agostinho and Menendez failed dope tests during the Tour. As noted earlier, winner Bernard Thévenet had failed a drug test in Paris–Nice that spring. This was a strange time when it seemed that the drug rules were not enforced fairly. You will note that there were no Frenchmen in the above list of riders caught doping in the Tour. Mysterious rumors circulated about another 3 or 4 riders who had also failed their tests. None of these additional riders were French, nor were they sanctioned.

Thévenet would pay a very high price for his drug taking. That winter he checked himself into a hospital because his cortisone use had severely damaged his liver. He went public with his misdeeds and was severely criticized by the press for admitting his doping after it became obvious, by his fellow riders, and by his sponsor, Peugeot.

This would probably be a good time to stop and look at the bikes of the era. I had the good fortune to get a Team Raleigh bike built in what I believe was the shop of Jan Legrand. I think it is indicative of the bikes of the time. I am going on memory here, so please forgive any errors.

The frame was Reynolds 531. The bike, being Dutch, was heavier than the normal 21-pound racing bike of the era. It was lugged with a 25mm diameter top tube and a 28mm downtube. Tubing of that time for most uses was drawn to 0.6mm thickness in the center of the tubes and 0.9 at the butts. I assume my bike had slightly thicker tubing. The frame was fitted with short Campagnolo horizontal adjustable dropouts. It had no chrome.

The groupset was Campagnolo Super Record.

The wheels were 32 spoke laced on to Martano rims. The tires it came with were Clement Strada 66 cotton cold-treated tubulars.

Thévenet's bikes were not of the same class. The Peugeot team that he rode for were issued stock Peugeot bikes. The frames were of 531 like the Raleighs, but the workmanship was rather inferior. Merckx, who rode for Peugeot early in his career, said that the Peugeot bikes rode and handled like dogs. Like many champions, he had other builders supply him with bikes then painted and decaled Peugeot. Instead of crisp Campagnolo side-pulls, they used Mafac centerpull brakes that had been updated only slightly from the 1950s.

The Simplex Super LJ derailleur set was certainly up to the standards of the time, superior in their shifting to the Campagnolo. The hubs, Maillard, were not that well made, their axles being prone to breaking.

The Stronglight crankset was pretty and shiny. But as anyone who rode one in competition could tell you, the spider was very flexible. It was easy to make the chain rub against the derailleur under even modest effort. The Maillard pedals were also inferior having poor bearings and fragile axles.

And with that machine, one that any weekend duffer today would shun with horror, Thévenet won 2 Tours de France. It's the legs.

Video of Lucien van Impe riding the Stage 20 time trial

© McGann Publishing

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• Stage 20 (ITT)

Points at finish

Race information.

• Date: 21 July 1978
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 43.42 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 72 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 31
• Vert. meters: 719
• Departure: Metz
• Arrival: Nancy
• Race ranking: 0
• Startlist quality score: 1241
• Avg. temperature:

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Vainqueur Tour des Flandres

Pouvez-vous nommer les 50 derniers vainqueurs du tour des flandres , quiz scoreboard challenge, recently published.

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