1976, Sport: Lucien Van Impe – Tour de France 1976

The Belgian cyclist Lucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France on July 18, 1976. It was the last Belgian victory to this day (2017). The revelation of the 1976 Tour was another Belgian, Freddy Maertens, in his first Tour he won eight stages and the points classification. Martens led the general classification for ten days. Eddy Merckx was not present due to an injury.

Stage victories by country:

• Belgium: 12 (Freddy Maertens (8), Willy Teirlinck (1), Lucien Van Impe (1), Michel Pollentier (1), Ferdinand Bracke (1))
• Netherlands: 6 (Hennie Kuiper (1), Joop Zoetemelk (3), Gerben Karstens (2))
• France: 3 (Jacques Esclassan (1), Raymond Delisle (1), Hubert Mathis (1))
• Italy: 3 (Giovanni Battaglin (1), Aldo Parecchini (1), Wladimiro Panizza (1))
• Spain: 2 (Miguel-Maria Lasa (1), José-Luis Viejo (1))

Lucien Van Impe (left) and Joop Zoetemelk (right)

in the 20the stage from Tulle to Puy de Dome

General classification (1-10):

1. Lucien Van Impe 116h 22' 23"
2. Joop Zoetemelk + 4' 14"
3. Raymond Poulidor + 12' 08"
4. Raymond Delisle + 12' 17"
5. Walter Riccomi + 12' 39"
6. Francisco Galdós + 14' 50"
7. Michel Pollentier + 14' 59"
8. Freddy Maertens + 16' 09"
9. Fausto Bertoglio + 16' 36"
10. Vicente López Carril + 19' 28"

Lucien Van Impe rides uphill in the Col du Pla d'Adet, 10 July 1976,

winning the 14th stage and taking the yellow jersey

Points classification (1-3):

1. Freddy Maertens 293 points
2. Pierino Gavazzi 137 points
3. Jacques Esclassan 128 points

Left to right: Freddy Maertens in the green jersey, his wife Carine Brouckaert,

Lucien Van Impe in the yellow jersey, his mother Julia and wife Rita Van der Biest

Mountains classification (1-3):

1. Giancarlo Bellini 170 points
2. Lucien Van Impe 169 points
3. Joop Zoetemelk 119 points

Lucien Van Impe arrives at his hometown, Mere, Belgium

Team classification (1-3):

1. Kas–Compagnolo 350h 05' 39"
2. Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson + 9' 20"
3. Scic–Fiat + 28' 02" 

1976 Tour de France: Lucien Van Impe


1976 Tour de France: Lucien Van Impe