1977, Sport: Tour of Flanders

The 61st edition of the Tour of Flanders was held on 3 April 1977, covering a distance of 260 km. For the first time, the race started in Sint-Niklaas, having previously begun in Ghent until 1976. The finish was in Meerbeke. The winner's average speed was 39.207 km/h. Of the 167 riders who started, only 26 reached the finish line.

Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck

Eddy Merckx, aiming for a third victory in his home classic, attacked early in the race and tackled the first climbs at the head of the field. Freddy Maertens suffered a puncture on the Koppenberg and received a bike from a spectator, who pushed him all the way up the climb. Race officials instructed Maertens to abandon, but he ignored the order on the advice of his team manager, Lomme Driessens. Roger De Vlaeminck launched a pursuit of Merckx on the Koppenberg but punctured shortly afterwards and was caught by the returning Maertens. After the Taaienberg, a leading trio formed—De Vlaeminck, Maertens, and Merckx—holding a gap over the peloton. On the Varent climb, 70 km from the finish, a struggling Merckx was dropped by his companions and would ultimately abandon the race. In the end, De Vlaeminck outsprinted Maertens to take the victory.

Eddy Merckx, Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck

Maertens was disqualified for making an illegal bike change and for doping (amphetamine Stimul). Walter Planckaert, who had finished third, was also disqualified for doping (amphetamine Stimul). Guy Sibille, who placed 12th, was disqualified for failing to report to the anti-doping control.

Roger De Vlaeminck

General Classification

Rnk	Rider	Team	Time
1	De Vlaeminck Roger (BEL)	Brooklyn	6:44:00
2	Maertens Freddy (BEL)	Flandria Velda	0:02
3	Planckaert Walter (BEL)	Maes Pils - Mini-Flat	2:00
2	Godefroot Walter (BEL)	Ijsboerke - Colnago	2:00
3	Raas Jan (NED)	Frisol - Gazelle - Thirion	,,
4	Moser Francesco (ITA)	Sanson	,,
5	Pollentier Michel (BEL)	Flandria Velda	,,
6	Verbeeck Frans (BEL)	Ijsboerke - Colnago	,,
7	Demeyer Marc (BEL)	Flandria Velda	,,
8	Planckaert Willy (BEL)	Maes Pils - Mini-Flat	,,
9	Thurau Dietrich (GER)	TI - Raleigh	,,
12	Sibille Guy (FRA)	Peugeot - Esso - Michelin	,,
10	Kuiper Hennie (NED)	TI - Raleigh	2:48
11	Teirlinck Willy (BEL)	Gitane - Campagnolo	7:14
12	Leman Luc (BEL)	Ijsboerke - Colnago	,,
13	Marchetti Renato (ITA)	Sanson	,,
14	Van Linden Rik (BEL)	Bianchi - Campagnolo	11:20
15	Van Sweevelt Guido (BEL)	Ijsboerke - Colnago	13:10
16	Jacques Eric (BEL)	Maes Pils - Mini-Flat	14:00
17	van Katwijk Piet (NED)	TI - Raleigh	,,
18	De Cauwer José (BEL)	TI - Raleigh	,,
19	Vandi Alfio (ITA)	Magniflex	,,
20	Delcroix Ludo (BEL)	Fiat France	,,
21	Bossant Ronny (BEL)	Brooklyn	,,
22	Van Den Haute Ferdi (BEL)	Ebo - Superia	,,
23	Clively Garry (AUS)	Magniflex	,,

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