Search our site:

| 1979 Tour | 1977 Tour |

|1978 Tour Quick Facts | Race Summary | Full Final GC | Team GC |Team Points | Individual Points | Climber |Young Rider |Full Trade Team Rosters| Stage Results with Running GC | The Story of the 1978 Tour de France |

Note to the kind reader: If this page looks like monkeys with computers assembled the data, you aren't far off. I started this page in the late 1990s using one template and changed in 2011 when I completed the page.

---

Route map of the 1978 Tour de France.

---

1979 Tour de France Quick Facts:

Statistics

Number of stages	22
Number of riders starting	110
Number of riders finishing	78
Distance	3,908 km
Average speed	36.084 km/h

Results

Top three finishers	1. Bernard Hinault 2. Joop Zoetemelk 3. Joaquim Agostinho
Yellow jerseys	Jan Raas, Jacques Bossis, Klaus-Peter Thaler, Gerrie Knetemann, Joseph Bruyere, Joop Zoetemelk, Bernard Hinault
Best sprinter	Freddy Maertens
Best climber	Mariano Martinez
Best team	Miko-Mercier

---

Race Summary: Zoetemelk, Hinault, Pollentier, and Kuiper were considered the main protagonists at the start of the race. Pollentier was thrown out of the race for trying to cheat on a drug test and Kuiper broke his collerbone in a crash. On the Puy de Dôme stage, Zoetemelk left Hinault 1min 40sec behind, but Hinault's time-trialing excellence gave him the yellow jersey after the Metz-Nancy time trial. The riders staged a go-slow strike during the Tabes-Valence stage (stage 12a) over difficult racing conditions such as a split stage after a hard stage. Stage 12a was annulled.

---

Complete 1978 Tour de France Final General Classification

1	Bernard Hinault (Renault-Gitane)	108hr 18min 2sec
2	Joop Zoetemelk (Miko-Mercier)	@ 3min 58sec
3	Joaquim Agostinho (Velda-Flandria)	6min 54sec
4	Joseph Bruyère (C & A)	9min 4sec
5	Christian Seznec (Miko-Mercier)	12min 50sec
6	Paul Wellens (TI-Raleigh)	14min 38sec
7	Francisco Galdos (KAS)	17min 8sec
8	Henk Lubberding (TI-Raleigh)	17min 26sec
9	Lucien van Impe (C & A)	21min 1sec
10	Mariano Martinez (Jobo-Superia)	22min 58sec
11	Sven-Ake Nilsson (Miko-Mercier)	23min
12	Raymond Martin (Miko-Mercier)	32min 58sec
13	Freddy Maertens (Velda-Flandria)	34min 2sec
14	Michel Laurent (Peugeot-Esso)	40min
15	André Romero (Jobo-Superia)	49min 34sec
16	Edouard Janssens (C & A)	51min 19sec
17	Yves Hézard (Peugeot-Esso)	53min 20sec
18	Antonio Menendez (Teka)	53min 28sec
19	René Bittinger (Velda-Flandria)	53min 47sec
20	Jos De Schoenmaecker  (C & A)	53min 28sec
21	Pierre Bazzo	55min 35sec
22	José Martins	57min 7sec
23	Gilbert Lelay	57min 40sec
24	Jaan Raas	58min 43sec
25	Fedor Den Hertog	1hr 1min 46sec
26	René Martens	1hr 2min 29sec
27	Maurice Le Gilloux	1hr 2min 40sec
28	Bernard Bourreau	1hr 6min 34sec
29	Patrick Perret	@ s.t.
30	Ferdinand Julien	1hr 6min 45sec
31	Pierre-Raymond Villemaine	1hr 7min 50sec
32	Juan Pujol	1hr 8min 20sec
33	Charly Rouxel	1hr 9min 19sec
34	Sean Kelly	1hr 10min 18sec
35	Klaus-Peter Thaler	1hr 10min 22sec
36	Andre Mollet	1hr 13min 38sec
37	Gilbert Chamaz	1hr 15min 50sec
38	Willy Tierlinck	1hr 16min 30sec
39	Andrès Oliva	1hr 20min 6sec
40	Pedro Vilardebo	1hr 21min 27sec
41	Miguel-Maria Asa	1hr 21min 37sec
42	Roger Legeay	1hr 29min 19sec
43	Gerrie Knetemann	1hr 30min 10sec
44	Herman Beyssens	1hr 31min 58sec
45	Hubert Mathis	1hr 34min 40sec
46	Bernardo Alfonsel	1hr 34min 51sec
47	Wilfried Wesemael	1hr 36min 16sec
48	Alain De Carvalho	1hr 39min 48sec
49	Marc De Meyer	1hr 40min 50sec
50	Dominique Sanders	1hr 41min 26sec
51	René Dillen	1hr 41min 31sec
52	Lucien Didier	1hr 44min 44sec
53	Christian Muselet	1hr 48min 10sec
54	Alain Patritti	1hr 50min 7sec
55	José De Cauwer	1hr 50min 12sec
56	Albert Van Vlierberghe	1hr 52min 3sec
57	Aad Van Den Hoek	1hr 53min 13sec
58	Bernard Quilfen	1hr 53min 46sec
59	Marcel Tinazzi	1hr 53min 46sec
60	Marcel Laurens	1hr 56min 43sec
61	Jacques Esclassan	2hr 25sec
62	Jacques Bossis	2hr 36sec
63	André Chalmel	2hr 3min 23sec
64	Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke	2hr 4min 7sec
65	Barry Hoban	2hr 6min 33sec
66	Eugène Plet	2hr 10min 16sec
67	Serge Beucherie	2hr 16min 40sec
68	Philippe Durel	2hr 17min 13sec
69	Jean-Louis Gauthier	2hr 17min 16sec
70	Paul Sherwin	2hr 18min 54sec
71	Alain Budet	2hr 20min 13sec
72	Dino Bertolo	2hr 25min 50sec
73	Jean-Jacques Fussien	2hr 27min 2sec
74	Yvon Bertin	2hr 36min 31sec
75	Daniel Gisiger	2hr 49min 16sec
76	Régis Delepine	3hr 2min 41sec
77	Dante Coccolo	3hr 24min 18sec
78	Philippe Tesniere	3hr 52min 26sec

1978 Tour de France Overall Team Classification

1	Miko-Mercier-Hutchinson	562hr 6min 38sec
2	TI-Raleigh-McGregor	562hr 30min 18sec
3	C & A	562hr 54min 14sec
4	Velda-Lano-Flandria	563hr 21min 36sec
5	Renault-Gitane-Campagnolo	563hr 53min 37sec
6	Peugeot-Esso-Michelin	566hr 11min 19sec
7	Lejeune-BP	566hr 38min 5sec
8	Teka	566hr 58min 40sec
9	Jobo-Superba	567hr 9min 40sec
10	Fiat-La France	569hr 7min 19sec

Team Points

1	TI-Raleigh	720 points
2	Renault-Gitane	933
3	Velda-Flandria	972
4	Miko-Mercier	1,072
5	Peugeot-Esso	1,144
6	C & A	1,456
7	Jobo-Superia	1,656
8	Lejeune-BP	1,729
9	Fiat-La France	2,347
10	Teka	2,629

1978 Tour De France King of the Mountains

1	Mariano Martinez	187 points
2	Bernard Hinault	176
3	Joop Zoetemelk	155
4	Christian Seznec	90
5	Joaquim Agostinho	73
6	Sven-Ake Nilsson	70
7	Paul Wellens	68
8	René Bittinger	63
9	Gilbert Lelay	54
10	Lucien Van Impe	53
11	René Martin	41
12	André Romero	41
13	Antonio Menendez	40
14	Henk Lubberding	39
15	Francisco Galdos	37
16	Joseph Bruyère	36.5
17	Dominique Sanders	24
18	Roger Legeay	24
19	Jean-Jacques Fussien	21
20	Michel Laurent	20

White Jersey (Young Rider in 1st or 2nd Tour)

1	Henk Lubberding
2	Sven-Ake Nilsson
3	René Bittinger
4	Pierre Bazzo
5	Gilbert Lelay

Points (Sprinter)

1	Freddy Maertens	242 points
2	Jacques Esclassan	189
3	Bernard Hinault	123
4	Jan Raas	109
5	Joseph Bruyère	100
6	Klaus-Peter Thaler	91
7	Yvon Bertin	79
8	Jacques Bossis	74
9	Joop Zoetemelk	71
10	Joaquim Agostinho	70
11	Paul Wellens	67
12	Sean Kelly	60
13	Christian Seznec	56
14	Henk Lubberding	51
15	Mariano Martinez	50
16	Marc De Meyer	46
17	Miguel-Maria Lasa	45
18	Jean-Jacques Fussien	45
19	René Martens	39
20	Sven-Ake Nilsson	35

---

1978 Tour de France stage results with running GC:

Prologue: Thursday, June 29, Leiden 5.2 km Individual Time Trial

1. Jan Raas: 6min 38sec
2. Gerrie Knetemann @ 2sec
3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4sec
4. Hennie Kuiper @ 8min
5. Joseph Bruyère @ 10sec
6. Yves Hèzard @ 16sec
7. Freddy Maertens @ 18sec
8. Daniel Gisiger @ 19sec
9. Bernard Hinault s.t.
10. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.

GC after Prologue: Because of rain and icy roads, the prologue did not count towards the GC.

Stage 1A: Friday, June 30, Leiden - Sant Willebrord, 135 km.

1. Jan Raas: 3hr 24min 21sec
2. Freddy Maertens @ 1sec
3. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
4. Walter Planckaert s.t.
5. Gerben Karstens s.t.
6. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
7. Jean-Louis Gauthier s.t.
8. Sean Kelly s.t.
9. Pierre Bazzo s.t.
10. Yvon Bertin s.t.

GC after Stage 1A:

1. Jan Raas: 3hr 24min 21sec
2. Freddy Maertens @ 1sec
3. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
4. Walter Planckaert s.t.
5. Gerben Karstens s.t.
6. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
7. Jean-Louis Gauthier s.t.
8. Sean Kelly s.t.
9. Pierre Bazzo s.t.
10. Yvon Bertin s.t.

Stage 1B: Friday, June 30, Sant Willebrord - Brussels, 100 km

1. Walter Planckaert: 2hr 22min 14sec
2. Freddy Maertens s.t.
3. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
4. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
5. Jesus Suerez-Cuevas s.t.
6. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
7. Jacques Bossis s.t.
8. Yvon Bertin s.t.
9. Willy Tierlinck s.t.
10. Jan Raas s.t.

GC after Stage 1B:

1. Jan Raas: 5hr 46min 35sec
2. Freddy Maertens @ 1sec
3. Walter Planckaert s.t.
4. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
5. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
6. Yvon Bertin s.t.
7. Jacques Bossis s.t.
8. Jean-Louis Gauthier s.t.
9. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
10. Willy Tierlinck s.t.

Stage 2: Saturday, July 1, Brussels - St. Amand Les Eaux, 199 km

1. Jacques Esclassan: 5hr 21min 31sec
2. Yvon Bertin s.t.
3. Freddy Maertens s.t.
4. Walter Planckaert s.t.
5. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
6. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
7. Jacques Bossis s.t.
8. Mariano Martinez s.t.
9. Jan Raas s.t.
10. Guy Sibille s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Jan Raas: 11hr 8min 6sec
2. Freddy Maertens @ 1sec
3. Walter Planckaert s.t.
4. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
5. Jean-François Pescheaux s.t.
6. Yvon Bertin s.t.
7. Jacques Bossis s.t.
8. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
9. André Mollet s.t.
10. Guy Sibille s.t.

Stage 3: Sunday, July 2, St. Amand les Eaux - St. Germain en Laye, 243.5 km

1. Klaus-Peter Thaler: 7hr 25min 42sec
2. Jacques Bossis s.t.
3. Patrick Friou @ 6sec
4. Joseph Bruyère s.t.
5. Gerrie Knetemann s.t.
6. Maurice Le Guilloux s.t.
7. René Bittinger s.t.
8. Régis Ovion s.t.
9. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume s.t.
10. Paul Sherwen @ 1min 38sec
11. Willy Tierlinck @ 3min 5sec
12. Jean-François Pescheux s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

1. Jacques Bossis: 18hr 33min 29sec
2. Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 20sec
3. René Bittinger s.t.
4. Joseph Bruyère s.t.
5. Régis Ovion s.t.
6. Gerrie Knetemann s.t.
7. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 30sec
8. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 43sec
9. Paul Sherwen @ 43sec
10. Jan Raas @ 3min 24sec

Stage 4: Monday, July 3, Evreux - Caen 153 km Team Time Trial. Real times did not apply. Teams were riding for time bonuses. 1st place earned 2 minutes; 2nd 1min 20sec; 3rd 1min; 4th 40sec; 5th 20sec

1. TI-Raleigh: 3hr 39min 7sec
2. C & A @ 7sec
3. Miko-Mercier @ 4min 19sec
4. Renault-Gitane @ 5min 15sec
5. Flandria-Velda @ 6min 20sec
6. Lejeune-BP @ 9min 4sec
7. Peugeot-Esso @ 13min 20sec
8. Fiat @ 19min 22sec
9. Teka @ 23min 39sec
10. Jobo @ 23min 48sec
11. KAS @ 24min 32sec

GC after stage 4:

1. Klaus-Peter Thaler: 18hr 31min 49sec
2. Gerrie Knetemann @ 6sec
3. Joseph Bruyère @ 46sec
4. Jacques Bossis @ 1min
5. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 23sec
6. René Bittinger @ 1min 46sec
7. Régis Ovion @ 2min 6sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 2min 16sec
9. Hennie Kuiper @ 3min 5sec
10. Henk Lubberding s.t.

Stage 5: Tuesday, July 4, Caen - Mazé Montgeoffroy, 244 km

1. Freddy Maertens: 6hr 16sec
2. Gerben Karstens s.t.
3. Jacques Esclassan s.t.
4. Yvon Bertin s.t.
5. Jean-François Peschsux s.t.
6. Régis Delépine s.t.
7. Dominique Sanders s.t.
8. Joël Gallopin s.t.
9. Philippe Durel s.t.
10. Alain Patritti s.t.

GC after Stage 5:

1. Klaus-Peter Thaler: 25hr 32min 5sec
2. Gerrie Knetemann @ 6sec
3. Joseph Bruyère @ 46sec
4. Jacques Bossis @ 1min
5. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 23sec
6. René Bittinger @ 1min 46sec
7. Régis Ovion @ 2min 6sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 2min 16sec
9. Hennie Kuiper @ 3min 5sec
10. Henk Lubberding s.t.

Stage 6: Wednesday, July 5, Mazé Montgeoffroy - Poitiers, 166.2 km

1. Sean Kelly: 4hr 2min 24sec
2. Gerrie Knetemann s.t.
3. René Bittinger s.t.
4. Joseph Bruyère s.t.
5. Sven-Ake Nilsson s.t.
6. Jacques Esclassan @ 27sec
7. Walter Planckaert s.t.
8. Guy Sibille s.t.
9. Jacques Bossis s.t.
10. Bernard Boureau s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Gerrie Knetemann: 29hr 34min 25sec
2. Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 21sec
3. Joseph Bruyère @ 40sec
4. Jacques Bossis @ 1min 21sec
5. René Bittinger @ 1min 40sec
6. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 44sec
7. Régis Ovion @ 2min 27sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 2min 37sec
9. Wilfried Wesemael @ 2min 37sec
10. Henk Lubberding s.t.

Stage 7: Thursday, July 6, Poitiers - Bordeaux Le Lac, 242 km

1. Freddy Maertens: 7hr 1min 8sec
2. Jacques Esclassan s.t.
3. Walter Planckaert s.t.
4. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
5. Jean-François Pescheux s.t.
6. Jacques Bossis s.t.
7. Charly Rouxel s.t.
8. Yvon Bertin s.t.
9. André Mollet s.t.
10. Barry Hoban s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

1. Gerrie Knetemann: 36hr 35min 42sec
2. Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 22sec
3. Joseph Bruyère @ 41min
4. Jacques Bossis @ 1min 21sec
5. René Bittinger @ 1min 41sec
6. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 45sec
7. Régis Ovion @ 2min 28sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 2min 38sec
9. Hennie Kuiper @ 3min 27sec
10. Wilfried Wesemael s.t.

Stage 8: Friday, July 7, St. Emilion - Saite Foy La Grande, 59.3 km Individual Time Trial

1. Bernard Hinault: 1hr 22min 1sec
2. Joseph Bruyère @ 34sec
3. Freddy Maertens @ 56sec
4. Joop Zoetemelk @ 59sec
5. Michel Pollentier @ 1min 22sec
6. Michel Laurent @ 1min 33sec
7. Jacques Bossis @ 2min
8. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 2min 29sec
9. Joaquim Agostinho @ 2min 40sec
10. Paul Wellens @ 2min 56sec

GC after stage 8:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 37hr 58min 58sec
2. Jacques Bossis @ 2min 7sec
3. Gerrie knetemann @ 2min 56sec
4. Bernard Hinault @ 3min 32sec
5. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 11sec
6. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 4min 36sec
7. Freddy Maertens @ 4min 48sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaumew @ 4min 58sec
9. Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 5min 5sec
10. Hennie Kuiper @ 5min 11sec

Stage 9: Saturday, July 8, Bordeaux - Biarritz, 233 km.

1. Miguel-Maria Lasa: 6hr 43min 10sec
2. Jan Raas s.t.
3. Marc De Meyer s.t.
4. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume s.t.
5. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
6. Walter Planckaert s.t.
7. Yvon Bertin s.t.
8. Jacques Esclassan s.t.
9. Dominique Sanders
10. Jean-René Bernaudeau s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 44hr 42min 8sec
2. Jacques Bossis @ 2min 7sec
3. Gerrie Knetemann @ 2min 56sec
4. Bernard Hinault @ 3min 32sec
5. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 11sec
6. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 4min 36sec
7. Freddy Maertens @ 4min 48sec
8. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 4min 58sec
9. Klaus-Peter Thaler @ 5min 5sec
10. Hennie Kuiper @ 5min 11sec

Stage 10: Monday, July 10, Biarritz - Pau, 191.5 km

Major Ascent: Marie-Blanque

1. Henk Lubberding: 5hr 46min 54sec
2. Patritti @ 30sec
3. Jan Raas s.t.
4. Pierre-Raymond Villemiane s.t.
5. Freddy Maertens s.t.
6. Jacques Bossis
7. Mariano Martinez s.t.
8. Bernard Bourreau s.t.
9. Yves Hézard
10. Roger Legeay s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 50hr 29min 32sec
2. Jacques Bossis @ 2min 7sec
3. Bernard Hinault @ 3min 32sec
4. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 11sec
5. Freddy Maertens @ 4min 48sec
6. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume @ 4min 58sec
7. Hennie Kuiper @ 5min 11sec
8. Michel Pollentier @ 5mn 14sec
9. Michel Laurent @ 5min 45sec
10. Henk Lubberding @ 5min 46sec

Stage 11: Tuesday, July 11, Pau - St. Lary Soulan, 161 km

Major Ascents: Toumalet, Aspin and hilltop finish at St Lary-Soulan

1. Mariano Martinez: 5hr 47min 26sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 5sec
3. Michel Pollentier s.t.
4. Joop Zoetemelk @ 19sec
5. Joaquim Agostinho @ 1min 28sec
6. Hennie Kuiper @ 1min 29sec
7. Christian Seznec @ 2min 21sec
8. Francisco Galdos @ 2min 30sec
9. Raymond Martin @ 2min 31sec
10. Joseph Bruyère s.t.

GC after Stage 11:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 56hr 19min 30sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 5sec
3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 1min 58sec
4. Michel Pollentier @ 2min 47sec
5. Hennie Kuiper @ 4min 8sec
6. Joaquim Agostinho @ 5min 48sec
7. Freddy Maertens @ 6min 25sec
8. Mariano Martinez @ 6min 34sec
9. Michel Laurent @ 7min 15sec
10. Francisco Galdos @ 7min 39sec

Stage 12a: Wednesday, July 12, Tarbes - Valence d'Agen, 148 km.

Anulled, rider's strike. For more on the strike, see below, The Story of the 1978 Tour de France

Stage 12b: Wednesday, July 12, Valence D'Agen - Toulouse, 96 km

1. Jacques Esclassan: 2hr 19min 12sec
2. Jan Raas s.t.
3. Freddy Maertens s.t.
4. Régis Delépine s.t.
5. Gerben Karstens s.t.
6. Jean-Louis Gauthier s.t.
7. Willy Tierlinck s.t.
8. Guy Sibille s.t.
9. Yvon Bertin s.t.
10. Jean-Jacques Fussien s.t.

GC after Stage 12b:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 58hr 38min 42sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 5sec
3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 1min 58sec
4. Michel Pollentier @ 2min 47sec
5. Hennie Kuiper @ 4min 8sec
6. Joaquim Agostinho @ 5min 48sec
7. Freddy Maertens @ 6min 25sec
8. Mariano Martinez @ 6min 34sec
9. Michel Laurent @ 7min 15sec
10. Francisco Galdos @ 7min 39sec

Stage 13: Thursday, July 13, Figeac - Super Besse, 221.5 km.

Major Ascents: Sainte Anastaise and hilltop finish at Super Besse

1. Paul Wellens: 6hr 43min 49sec
2. Michel Laurent @ 1min 30sec
3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 1mn 31sec
4. Bernard Hinault @ 2min 7sec
5. Michel Pollentier s.t.
6. Joop Zoetemelk s.t.
7. Joseph Bruyère s.t.
8. Hennie Kuiper s.t.
9. Lucien van Impe s.t.
10. Chirstian Seznec @ 2min 19sec

GC after Stage 13:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 65hr 24min 38sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 5sec
3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 1min 58sec
4. Michel Pollentier @ 2min 47sec
5. Hennie Kuiper @ 4min 8sec
6. Joaquim Agostinho @ 5min 13sec
7. Paul Wellens @ 6min 36sec
8. Michel Laurent @ 6min 38sec
9. Mariano Martinez @ 6min 46sec
10. Freddy Maertens @ 7min 21sec

Stage 14: Friday, July 14, Besse en Chandesse - Puy de Dôme 52.5 km timed Hill Climb

Major Ascent: Finish at top of Puy de Dôme

1. Joop Zoetemelk: 1hr 25min 51sec
2. Michel Pollentier @ 46sec
3. Joseph Bruyère @ 55sec
4. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 40sec
5. Joaquim Agostinho @ 2min 2sec
6. Lucien van Impe @ 2min 49sec
7. Hennie Kuiper @ 4min 2sec
8. Raymond Martin @ 4min 42sec
9. Mariano Martinez @ 4min 51sec
10. Yves Hézard @ 4min 52sec

GC after Stage 14:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 66hr 51min 24sec
2. Joop Zoetemelk @ 1min 3sec
3. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 50sec
4. Michel Pollentier @ 2min 38sec
5. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6min 20sec
6. Hennie Kuiper @ 7min 15sec
7. Mariano Martinez @ 10min 42sec
8. Freddy Maertens @ 11min 29sec
9. Francisco Galdos @ 12min 1sec
10. Paul Wellens @ 12min 31sec

Stage 15: Saturday, July 15, Chamalières - St. Etienne, 233.5 km

Major Ascent: Croix de Chabouret

1. Bernard Hinault: 5hr 49min 48sec
2. Sean Kelly s.t.
3. Freddy Maertens s.t.
4. Miguel-Maria Lasa s.t.
5. Christian Seznec s.t.
6. Patrick Friou s.t.
7. Régis Ovion s.t.
8. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.
9. Mariano Martinez s.t.
10. René Bittinger s.t.

GC after Stage 15:

1. Joseph Bruyère: 72hr 41min 12sec
2. Zoop Zoetemelk @ 1min 3sec
3. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 50sec
4. Michel Pollentier @ 2min 38sec
5. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6min 20sec
6. Hennie Kuiper @ 7min 15sec
7. Mariano Martinez @ 10min 42sec
8. Freddy Maertens @ 11min 29sec
9. Francisco Galdos @ 12min 1sec
10. Paul Wellens @ 12min 31sec

Stage 16: Sunday, July 16, St. Etienne - L'Alpe D'Huez, 240.5 km

Major Ascents: Républic, Luitel, hilltop finish at L'Alpe d'Huez

Michel Pollentier was first across the line but was ejected from the Tour after he was discovered trying to fool the dope testers.

1. Hennie Kuiper: 7hr 23min 45sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 8sec
3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 41sec
4. Joaquim Agostinho @ 1min 34sec
5. Henk Lubberding @ 2min 14sec
6. Lucien van Impe @ 2min 23sec
7. Francisco Galdos s.t.
8. Sven-Ake Nilsson @ 3min 25sec
9. Paul Wellens @ 3min 43sec
10. Raymond Martin @ 4min 48sec

27. Joseph Bruyère @ 11min 16sec

GC after Stage 16:

1. Joop Zoetemelk: 80hr 6min 41sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 14sec
3. Hennie Kuiper @ 5min 31sec
4. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6min 10sec
5. Joseph Bruyère @ 9min 32sec
6. Francisco Galdos @ 12min 46sec
7. Henk Lubberding @ 14min 30sec
8. Paul Wellens s.t.
9. Mariano Martinez @ 14min 56sec
10. Lucien van Impe @ 16min 17sec

Stage 17: Tuesday, July 18, Grenoble - Morzine, 225 km.

Major Ascents: Porte, Cucheron, Granier, Plainpalais, Colombière, Joux-Plane

1. Christian Seznec: 7hr 13min 34sec
2. Paul Wellens @ 9min 26sec
3. Bernard Hinault @ 9min 29sec
4. Joop Zoetemelk s.t.
5. Henk Lubberding @ 9min 32sec
6. Sven-Ake Nilsson s.t.
7. Joaquim Agostinho s.t.
8. Joseph Bruyère @ 10min 17sec
9. Pierre Bazzo s.t.
10. Francisco Galdos s.t.

GC after Stage 17:

1. Joop Zoetemelk: 87hr 29min 44sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 14sec
3. Joquim Agostinho @ 6min 13sec
4. Christian Seznec @ 8min 25sec
5. Joseph Bruyère @ 10min 25sec
6. Francisco Galdos @ 13min 28sec
7. Paul Wellens @ 14min 32sec
8. Henk Lubberding @ 14min 33sec
9. Sven-Ake Nilsson @ 16min 46sec
10. Lucien van Impe @ 17min 1sec

Stage 18: Wednesday, July 19, Morzine - Lausanne, 137.5 km

1. Gerrie Knetemann: 3hr 36min 52sec
2. Joseph Bruyère @ 13sec
3. Paul Wellens @ 14sec
4. Joaquin Agostinho @ 15sec
5. Edouard Janssens @ 22sec
6. Antonio Menendez @ 1min 10sec
7. René Martens @ 1min 37sec
8. Lucien van Impe @ 2min 16sec
9. Freddy Maertens @ 2min 19sec
10. Miguel-Maria Lasa @ 2min 20sec

GC after Stage 18:

1. Joop Zoetemelk: 91hr 8min 57sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 14sec
3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 4min 7sec
4. Joseph Bruyère @ 8min 17sec
5. Christian Seznec @ 8min 25sec
6. Paul Wellens @ 12min 5sec
7. Francisco Galdos @ 13min 28sec
8. Henk Lubberding @ 14min 33sec
9. Sven-Ake Nilsson @ 16min 46sec
10. Lucien van Impe @ 16min 56sec

Stage 19: Thursday, July 20, Lausanne - Belfort, 181.5 km

1. Marc De Meyer: 5hr 5min 57sec
2. Jan Raas s.t.
3. Miguel-Maria Lasa s.t.
4. Barry Hoban s.t.
5. Jean-Louis Gauthier s.t.
6. René Dillen s.t.
7. Willy Tierlinck s.t.
8. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke s.t.
9. Serge Beucherie s.t.
10. Pedro Vilardebo @ 4sec

GC after Stage 19:

1. Joop Zoetemelk: 96hr 15min 25sec
2. Bernard Hinault @ 14sec
3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 4min 7sec
4. Joseph Bruyère @ 8min 17sec
5. Christian Seznec @ 8min 25sec
6. Paul Wellens @ 12min 5sec
7. Francisco Galdos @ 13min 25sec
8. Henk Lubberding @ 14min 33sec
9. Sven-Ake Nilsson @ 16min 46sec
10. Lucien van Impe @ 16min 56sec

Stage 20: Friday, July 21, Metz - Nancy 75km Individual Time Trial

1. Bernard Hinault: 1hr 39min 29sec
2. Joseph Bruyère @ 1min 1sec
3. Gerrie Knetemann @ 1min 58sec
4. Paul Wellens @ 2min 47sec
5. Joaquin Agostinho @ 3min 1sec
6. Marc De Meyer @ 3min 36sec
7. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 3min 46sec
8. Francisco Galdos @ 3min 54sec
9. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 10sec
10. Wilfried Wesemael @ 4min 14sec

GC after Stage 20:

1. Bernard Hinault: 97hr 55min 8sec
2. Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 56sec
3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6min 54sec
4. Joseph Bruyère @ 9min 4sec
5. Christian Seznec @ 12min 50sec
6. Paul Wellens @ 14min 38sec
7. Francisco Galdos @ 17min 8sec
8. Henk Lubberding @ 18min 48sec
9. Lucien van Impe @ 21min 1sec
10. Mariano Martinez @ 22min 58sec

Stage 21: Saturday, July 22, Epernay - Soissons - Compiegne - Seulis. 207.5 km.

1. Jan Raas: 5hr 58min 49sec
2. Freddy Maertens @ 14sec
3. Yvon Bertin s.t.
4. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
5. Barry Hoban s.t.
6. Régis Delépine s.t.
7. Marc De Meyer s.t.
8. Wilfried Wesemael s.t.
9. Alain Patritti s.t.
10. Klaus-Peter Thaler s.t.

GC after Stage 21:

1. Bernard Hinault: 103hr 54min 11sec
2. Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 56sec
3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6min 56sec
4. Joseph Bruyère @ 9min 4sec
5. Christian Seznec @ 12min 50sec
6. Paul Wellens @ 14min 38sec
7. Francisco Galdos @ 17min 8sec
8. Henk Lubberding @ 18min 48sec
9. Lucien van Impe @ 21min 1sec
10. Mariano Martinez @ 22min 58sec

Stage 22: Sunday, July 23, St. Germain en Laye - Paris (Champs Elysées), 161.8 km.

1. Gerrie Knetemann 4hr 22min 46sec
2. René Martens @ 1sec
3. Henk Lubberding s.t.
4. Fedor Den Hartog @ 2sec
5. Yvon Bertin @ 1min 3sec
6. Jacques Escalssan s.t.
7. Ad Van den Hoek s.t.
8. Yves Hézard s.t.
9. José De Cauwer s.t.
10. Dominique Sanders s.t.

Final complete 1978 Tour de France General Classification

---

List of Riders by team, with backnumbers, 1978 Tour de France by Trade team with racing number. All are French unless otherwise noted.

Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
Director Sportif: Maurice De Muer
Assistant: Robert Naeye

1. Thévenet, Bernard

2. Bourreau, Bernard

3. Danguillaume, Jean-Pierre

4. Delpine, Regis

5. Esclassan, Jacques

6. Hezard, Yves

7. Laurent, Michel

8. Ovion, Regis

9. Sibille, Guy

10. Vandenbroucke, Jean-Luc (Belgium)

TI Raleigh-McGregor
Director Sportif: Peter Post
Assistant: Jules De Wever

11. Kuiper, Hennie (NL)

12. De Cauwer, Jose (Belgium)

13. Karstens, Gerben (NL)

14. Knetemann, Gerrie (NL)

15. Lubberding, Henk (NL)

16. Raas, Jan (NL)

17. Thaler, Klaus-Peter (West Germany)

18. Van Den Hoek, Aad (NL)

19. Wellen, Paul (Belgium)

20. Wesemael, Wilfred (Belgium)

C & A
Director Sportifs: Rudi Altig, Joseph Huysmans

21. Van Impe, Lucien (Belgium)

22. Bruyere, Joseph (Belgium)

23. De Schoenmaecker, J. (Belgium)

24. Dillen, Rene (Belgium)

25. Janssens, Ward (Belgium)

26. Laurens, Marcel (Belgium)

27. Loos, Ludo (Belgium)

28. Martin, Jacques (Belgium)

29. Martens, Rene (Belgium)

30. Planckaert, Walter (Belgium)

Kas-Campagnolo
Director Sportif: Antonio Barrutia

31. Galdos, Francisco (Spain)

32. Andiano, Julian (Spain)

33. Cima, Enrique (Spain)

34. Fernandes-Ovies, Faust (Spain)

35. Martinez-Heredia, E. (Spain)

36. Nazabal, Jose (Spain)

37. Pesarrondona, Jose (Spain)

38. Pujol, Juan (Spain)

39. Pozo, Sebastian (Spain)

40. Suarez-Cueva, Jesus (Spain)

Miko-Mercier-Hutchinson
Director Sportif: Louis Caput
Assitant: Maurice Quintin

41. Zoetemelk, Joop (NL)

42. Hoban, Barry (GB)

43. Le Guillox, Maurice

44. Martin, Raymond

45. Mathis, Hubert

46. Mollet Andre

47. Nilsson, Sven-Ake (Sweden)

48. Perret, Patrick

49. Seznec, Christian

50. Rouxel, Charles

Renault- Gitane-Campagnolo
Director Sportif: Cyrille Guimard
Assistant: Maurice Champion

51. Hinault, Bernard

52. Bernaudeau, Jean-Rene

53. Bertin, Yvon

54. Bossis, Jacques

55. Chalmel, Andre

56. Chaumez, Gilbert

57. Didier, Lucien (Lux)

58. Quilfen, Bernard

59. Tierlinck, Willy (Belgium)

60. Villemiane, Pierre-Raymond

Teka
Director Sportif: Julio San Emeterio
Assistant: Miguel Moreno

61. Torres, Pedro (Spain)

62. Alfonsel, Bernardo (Spain)

63. Eloriaga, Javier (Spain)

64. Garcia, Eulalio (Spain)

65. Las, Miguel-Maria (Spain)

66. Martinez, Paulino (Spain

67. Martins, Jose (Portugal)

68. Menendes, Antonio (Spain)

69. Oliva, Andres (Spain)

70. Vilardebo, Pedro (Spain)

Lejeune-BP
Director Sportif: Henry Anglade
Assistant: Pierre Schoor

71. Legeay, Roger

72. Bazzo, Pierre

73. De Hartog, Fedor (NL)

74. Friou, Patrick

75. Gallopin, Joel

76. Gauthier, Jean-Louis

77. Gisiger, Daniel (Switzerland)

78. Guttierrez, Antoine

79. Le Denmat, Michel

80. Plet, Eugene

Fiat-France
Director Sportif: Rafael Giminiani
Assistant: Gerard Morin

81. Fussien, Jean-Jacques

82. Beucherie, Serge

83. Budet, Alain

84. De Carvalho, Alain

85. Hard, Jacky

86. Le Lay, Gilbert

87. Sanders, Dominique

88. Tasniere, Philippe

89. Van Vlasaer, Didier

90. Sherwin, Paul (GB)

Velda-Lano-Flandria
Director Sportif: Fred De Bruyne
Assistant: Brick Schotte

91. Maertens, Freddy (Belgium)

92. Pollentier, Michael (Belgium)

93. Agostinho, Joaquim (Portugal)

94. Beyssens, Herman (Belgium)

95. Bittinger, Rene

96. De Meyer, Marc (Belgium)

97. Kelly, Sean (Ireland)

98. Muselet, Christian

99. Tinazzi, Marcel

100. Van Vlierberghe, A. (Belgium)

Jobo-Superia
Director Sportif: Guy Faubert
Assistant: Yves Gobert

101. Martinez, Mariano

102. Bertolo, Dino

103. Biderre, Jean-Pierre

104. Coccolo, Dante

105. Durel, Philippe

106. Inaudi, Herve

107. Julien, Ferdinand

108. Patritti, Alain

109. Pescheaux, Jean-Françoise

110. Romero, Andre

---

The Story of the 1978 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 or electronic. The Amazon link here will make either purchase easy.

At 3,908 kilometers, the 1978 Tour was a little shorter than previous Tours of the 1970s. It had only 2 split stages and 2 rest days but it was loaded with transfers. Almost half the stages started in a different city than the previous day's finish. The delay in getting to the evening's hotel made life hard on the exhausted racers who wanted nothing more than to get a massage, dinner and a good night's sleep. Anger had been brewing for years. The 1977 Paris–Nice stage race had been marred by a rider's strike over abusive scheduling by the race promoter. The Tour was courting the same trouble with its 1978 route.

The Merckx-Thévenet era was over even though Thévenet would continue riding the Tour until 1981. 1978 marks the beginning of the Bernard Hinault regime. Hinault's nickname, Le Blaireau (The Badger) is apt. Hinault always seemed to be a man with a clenched jaw, fighting, full of aggression. Hinault said that his solution for those times when he didn't feel good in a race was to attack. Hinault was a complete rider, able to climb, sprint and time trial. He raced classics, stage races, national and world championships and won them all. He was the last of the breed.

Coming to the 1978 Tour, he was only 23 years old, yet his accomplishments to date were stunning. The year before, Hinault had won Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Ghent–Wevelgem and the Grand Prix des Nations. The latter used to be the most prestigious individual time trial in the sport. He also had the Dauphiné Libéré, the 1977 Vuelta a España and French Road Championship in his palmares. This was a list of wins that most professionals would call an excellent career and Hinault was just getting started. In addition to being the most gifted rider of his age, he had Cyrille Guimard, the most tactically astute man in the business, for his director.

Besides Hinault, the 1978 Tour was loaded with potential winners. Zoetemelk, the true "Eternal Second" (he came in second in the Tour 5 times) was again riding in the pink, purple and white of Miko-Mercier. Hennie Kuiper, who had forced Thévenet to dig so deeply on L'Alpe d'Huez the year before, had the strongest team behind him in the Peter Post-directed Raleigh squad. Van Impe moved over to C&A, the company that took over sponsorship of Merckx's team. Peugeot, with a weakened Thévenet, had no real alternative. Their Michel Laurent had been hailed as the great new hope of French riding, but he couldn't fulfill his nation's ambitions.

The 1978 Tour started in Leiden, Holland with the Prologue being held in a torrential rain storm. Not surprisingly, the top 4 places of the time trial were taken by Dutch riders: Jan Raas, Gerrie Knetemann, Zoetemelk and Kuiper. All but Zoetemelk rode for TI-Raleigh.

Because of the appalling weather conditions during the Prologue the directors of the teams held a meeting. They agreed to petition the Tour management to have the results of the prologue not count towards the General Classification. All of the directors, that is, except the expected holdout, TI-Raleigh's Peter Post. His men had excelled in the tough conditions in their home country and had the most to lose. The Tour agreed to the directors' request. The results stood, but they would not be used in calculating the overall standings.

Jan Raas rides the Prologue, winning, but the time didn't count in the General Classification.

To make TI-Raleigh even more unhappy, Jan Raas, winner of the Prologue, was denied the Yellow Jersey for the start of the first stage. With the change in the use of the Prologue times, it was planned to have last year's winner, Bernard Thévenet, don the Yellow Jersey for the first stage. Thévenet declined the privilege.

The Raleighs started the morning road stage full of anger. They hammered through the day's terrible weather. Jan Raas was able to get clear of the field and elude a speeding Freddy Maertens to win the stage and finally able to put on his Yellow Jersey with a tiny 1-second lead over Maertens. Raas said that if he never won another race, he was going to win this one.

The stage 4 Team Time Trial was a long 153 kilometers. The Raleigh team, bursting with talent, buried themselves to win it and put their Klaus-Peter Thaler in Yellow. Because Thévenet had crashed and the team had missed their feed, Peugeot finished 13 minutes slower than Raleigh. As was the usual practice during that era, the Tour's rules that year did not apply the team time trial times to the individual riders' General Classification. Small time bonuses were awarded to the winning teams, minimizing the stage's damage.

Stage 8 was the first real test of the riders seeking overall victory, a 59.3-kilometer individual time trial. Young Bernard Hinault won the stage, beating Merckx's former right-hand man and good friend Joseph Bruyère by 34 seconds and Freddy Maertens by almost a minute. Bruyère of the C&A team was now in Yellow and Hinault had lifted himself to fourth place in the General Classification.

During the time trial Merckx rode in the C&A team car following his good friend Bruyère screaming "Allez, Joseph! Allez!" while beating on the side of the car door. How could anyone not do well with the great man yelling encouragement? Normally, in a time trial like this over rolling country with a pair of category-4 climbs, Bernard Thévenet would be in the top 5. His continuing health problems from doping were apparent with his twenty-second place in the stage at 4 minutes, 37 seconds.

At the end of stage 9, before the start of the climbing in the Pyrenees, the General Classification stood thus:

1. Joseph Bruyère

2. Jacques Bossis @ 2 minutes 7 seconds

3. Gerrie Knetemann @ 2 minutes 56 seconds

4. Bernard Hinault @ 3 minutes 32 seconds

5. Joop Zoetemelk @ 4 minutes 11 seconds

In the Pyrenees, Hinault gave confirmation that his climbing prowess was on the same level as his time-trialing. There was some skirmishing on the Marie Blanque during stage 10 but the real contenders all finished together. Stage 11 climbed the Tourmalet and the Aspin to St.-Lary-Soulan. Zoetemelk attacked on the final climb but that day he fell short. Hinault and Mariano Martinez were able to catch and drop the Dutchman. Martinez won the stage but Hinault was closing in on Bruyère. Bernard Thévenet, who had lost over 12 minutes in the previous stage and was dropped on the Tourmalet, the first major climb of the day, had to retire from the Tour.

Stage 11: Mariano Martinez wins at St.-Lary-Soulan. Hinault and Pollentier are only 5 seconds back.

The General Classification after stage 11:

1. Joseph Bruyère

2. Bernard Hinault @ 1 minute 5 seconds

3. Joop Zoetemelk @ 1 minute 58 seconds

4. Michel Pollentier @ 2 minutes 47 seconds

We've noted in earlier years that the Tour had become increasingly abusive of the riders. Trying to get every single Sou possible, a day's racing might have as many as 3 stages scheduled. The racers were forced to get up early with insufficient sleep, endure short transfers and still race all-out. In general the conditions were appalling.

The day of stage 12 had 2 stages scheduled. The racers were required to get up at 5:00 AM after an exhausting, monumental stage the day before. Moreover, they had endured a transfer that didn't let them get to bed until midnight. The day's 2 half stages had the riders covering 254 kilometers. Goddet was apprised of a planned rider's strike. He tried to avert it by compromising and offering the day's total prize money to the peloton if they would at least race the final hour. The racers would have none of that. After riding so slowly that they were 1½ hours behind the Tour's planned schedule, the riders stopped their bikes, dismounted and, led by Hinault, walked across the line in protest. The people of the little town of Valence d'Agen, where the stage finished, were furious that their 6 months of work preparing the city for the stage finish, as well as the fees paid to the Tour organization were wasted. The police had to protect the riders from the angry fans.

The public, incorrectly thinking that the professional racers were wealthy athletes who should endure a bit of hard work, generally failed to appreciate the striking riders' point.

The stage was annulled and the prize money was not awarded. Tour boss Jacques Goddet tried to blame the team managers for agreeing to the race conditions before the Tour started. Goddet showed no sympathy for the riders' complaints, noting that the race organization had consulted with the team managers several times before the route was unveiled. But it was the racers' point while their employers had worked with the Tour, they, the riders themselves, had not taken part in the route discussions.

Bastille Day was a 52.5-kilometer individual time trial up Puy de Dôme. Perhaps 400,000 people were on the sides of the road to watch. With 6 kilometers to go, at the beginning of the climb proper, Zoetemelk changed bikes. Hinault's mechanic tried to do the same, but with the crowds pressing on all sides, he hit a spectator and ruined the front wheel of the spare lightweight bike. Zoetemelk won the stage with Pollentier just 46 seconds behind him. And most surprising, Bruyère was only 55 seconds behind. Hinault, after the bike fiasco, came in at 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Stage 14: Zoetemelk rides up Puy de Dôme and wins the stage but is still 63 seconds away from Bruyère's Yellow Jersey.

Big Joseph Bruyère was still in Yellow. No one (Merckx excepted) expected him to do so well on the Puy de Dôme ascent.

Stage 16 was another big, hard mountain stage. The racers would tackle the Col De La République, the Grand Bois, the Luitel and finish at the top of l'Alpe d'Huez. Joseph Bruyère knew that it had been a miracle that he had been able to wear the Yellow Jersey this long. He knew his hours in the lead were numbered. It was on the Luitel that he cracked.

But up the road, little Michel Pollentier was scooting up the mountain. He went over the Luitel with a 13 second lead on Zoetemelk, Kuiper, Hinault and Agostinho. The chasers were slow to get organized. Pollentier kept pressing his advantage up the Romanche Valley leading to l'Alpe d'Huez.

He was able to hold his lead to the start of the hairpin turns of the Alpe. He had a gap of almost 2 minutes as Hinault, Kuiper and Zoetemelk closed in on him. Zoetemelk faltered in the final kilometers. Kuiper could see Pollentier up ahead as the tough Belgian crossed the line. Pollentier was first, Kuiper second, then Hinault and Zoetemelk.

This should have been Pollentier's triumph. He had won a stage so hard people would talk about it for all time and he was now wearing the Yellow Jersey. A bicycle racer could ask no more out of life.

2 hours after winning the stage Pollentier hadn't visited the doping control as every stage winner must do immediately after the race is over. He was finally found and brought to the van with 2 other racers selected for random tests. One of the 2, Antoine Gutierrez, seemed to have trouble producing a urine sample. The wary doctor, suspicious, pulled up his jersey and found a urine-filled bottle with a tube taped under his arm. Pollentier was found to have the same set-up. Pollentier's day in the sun was over. He was kicked out of the Tour.

Pollentier tried to explain that he had taken something for his breathing, but not knowing if it would trigger a positive test, he had tried to evade the controls. Later, it was found that he had taken amphetamines. Those do trigger a positive at a dope test.

This was a sad end for a man who I am told by those who know him is a kind, gentle, friendly man who got caught doing wrong. Yes, he was a cheat. Yet, he was immensely talented rider with the worst pedaling style in the pro peloton. Look at any picture of him and he's got his head cocked to one side, at least one elbow out and knees flailing. But he could make his bike go like hell. In 1977 he won the Giro d'Italia, the Tour of Switzerland and the Belgian Road Championships. Before the Tour started in 1978 he had already won the Dauphiné Libéré and again his National Championship. He entered the Tour 3 more times after this, never finishing. Like Freddy Maertens, he trusted other people with his money and they lost it for him. He ended up selling tires out of his house.

To return to the race.

Zoetemelk was sitting in second place in the general Classification when Pollentier was disgraced. Zoetemelk, who over the years had his own difficulties with dope testing, became the Yellow Jersey. He already had 3 second places in the Tour. Was this to be his breakout win?

There was one more Alpine stage and with the crash of Hennie Kuiper (who broke a clavicle) there were now 2 remaining protagonists, Zoetemelk and Hinault, who finished together. After stage 17 and the climbing finished, Zoetemelk retained a fragile hold on his Yellow Jersey.

1. Joop Zoetemelk

2. Bernard Hinault @ 14 seconds

3. Joaquim Agostinho @ 6 minutes 13 seconds

4. Christian Seznec @ 8 minutes 25 seconds

5. Joseph Bruyère @ 10 minutes 25 seconds

He stayed in the lead until the inevitable meeting in the final time trial in stage 20, 72 kilometers of what Hinault did best. Hinault beat Zoetemelk by 4 minutes, 10 seconds and took over the lead. With only 1 more stage, the Tour was his, the result of a careful, measured, controlled effort. This was to be the first of 5 Hinault Tour de France victories.

Final 1978 Tour de France General Classification:

1. Bernard Hinault (Renault-Gitane): 108 hours 18 minutes

2. Joop Zoetemelk (Miko-Mercier) @ 3 minutes 56 seconds

3. Joaquim Agostinho (Velda-Flandria) @ 6 minutes 54 seconds

4. Joseph Bruyère (C&A) @ 9 minutes 4 seconds

Climbers' competition:

1. Mariano Martinez: 187 points

2. Bernard Hinault: 176 points

3. Joop Zoetemelk: 155 points

Points competition:

1. Freddy Maertens: 242 points

2. Jacques Esclassan: 189 points

3. Bernard Hinault: 123 points

---

 

---