Dates 4 April 1976 Distance 261 km (162.2 mi) Second Francesco Moser (ITA) | Stages 1 Winning time 6h 10' 00" | |
Winner Walter Planckaert (BEL) | ||
The 60th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 4 April 1976. Belgian Walter Planckaert won before Francesco Moser and Marc Demeyer. It was the last time the race started at its traditional starting place Ghent, the finish was in Meerbeke (Ninove).
Contents
Course
The Koppenberg climb, stirring much controversy for its steep and unevenly cobbled surface, was included in the route for the first time. Only the first five riders managed to make it all the way riding, the rest had to shoulder their bikes to the top. Cycling legend Eddy Merckx was seen strolling helplessly through a tangle of riders and spectators.
In the final kilometers a group of five headed to the finish. Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck, two of Belgium's star riders, were favourites to win the sprint, but the two did not get on and let themselves jointly be dropped 4 km before the finish. Walter Planckaert won in a three-man sprint before Italian Francesco Moser and Marc Demeyer. De Vlaeminck beat Maertens for fourth place, recognizing his mistake, but stated "he did not want Maertens to win".
Climbs
There were nine categorized climbs in this edition: