| Race details | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 4 April 1976 | ||||||||||||
| Stages | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Distance | 261 km (162.2 mi) | ||||||||||||
| Winning time | 6h 10' 00" | ||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
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. [1] [2] It was the last time the race started in its original starting place, Ghent. The finish was in Meerbeke (Ninove).
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. [3]
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". [4] [5]
There were nine categorized climbs in this edition:
| Cyclist | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Walter Planckaert (BEL) | Maes–Rokado | 6h 10' 00" |
| 2 |  Francesco Moser (ITA) | Sanson | s.t. |
| 3 | Marc Demeyer (BEL) | Flandria–Velda | s.t. |
| 4 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | Brooklyn | + 16" |
| 5 | Freddy Maertens (BEL) | Flandria–Velda | s.t. |
| 6 | Willy Teirlinck (BEL) | Gitane–Campagnolo | + 22" |
| 7 | Eric Leman (BEL) | Zoppas–Splendor | s.t. |
| 8 | Walter Godefroot (BEL) | IJsboerke–Colnago | s.t. |
| 9 | Frans Verbeeck (BEL) | IJsboerke–Colnago | s.t. |
| 10 | André Dierickx (BEL) | Maes–Rokado | s.t. |
The Tour of Flanders, also known as De Ronde, is an annual road cycling race held in Belgium every spring. The most important cycling race in Flanders, it is part of the UCI World Tour and organized by Flanders Classics. Its nickname is Vlaanderens Mooiste. First held in 1913, the Tour of Flanders had its 100th edition in 2016.
The 69th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race took place on 7 April 1985. It was won by Belgian Eric Vanderaerden in an average speed of 39,605 km/h. The race was affected by abysmal weather, when a storm accompanied by wind and torrential rainfall, broke in the afternoon. Only 24 of 173 participants arrived.
The 61st running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on 3 April 1977. Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck won in a two-man sprint before Freddy Maertens, although the latter was later disqualified for an illegal bike change. The race started in Sint-Niklaas and finished in Meerbeke.
The 59th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 6 April 1975. Belgian Eddy Merckx won the classic a second time. The race started in Ghent and finished in Meerbeke (Ninove).
The 57th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 1 April 1973. Belgian Eric Leman won the classic ahead of Freddy Maertens and Eddy Merckx. The race started in Ghent and finished for the first time in Meerbeke (Ninove). 37 out of 174 riders arrived.
The 56th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 9 April 1972. Belgian Eric Leman won ahead of André Dierickx and Frans Verbeeck, winning the classic for the second time. The race started in Ghent and finished in Gentbrugge. 80 out of 171 riders arrived.
The 54th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 5 April 1970. Belgian Eric Leman won ahead of Walter Godefroot and Eddy Merckx, winning his first of three in the classic The race started in Ghent and finished in Gentbrugge. 37 out of 173 riders arrived.
The 53rd running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 30 March 1969. Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx won ahead of Italians Felice Gimondi and Marino Basso, winning his first of two in the Flemish classic. The race started in Ghent and finished in Gentbrugge.
The 77th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 4 April 1993.
The 70th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race was held on 6 April 1986. It was won by Dutch rider Adrie van der Poel in a four-man sprint before Ireland's Sean Kelly.
The 72nd running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on 3 April 1988. It was won by Eddy Planckaert in a two-man sprint with Australian Phil Anderson. 88 of 197 starters finished the race.
The 73rd running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on 2 April 1989. It was won by Edwig Van Hooydonck after a 12-kilometer solo. 77 of 177 riders finished the race.
The 36th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 6 April 1952. Belgian Roger Decock won the race in a three-man sprint before Loretto Petrucci and Briek Schotte. 43 of 210 riders finished.
The 43rd running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 30 March 1959. Belgian Rik Van Looy won the race in a three-man sprint with Frans Schoubben and Gilbert Desmet. 58 of 143 riders finished.
The 41st running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 31 March 1957. Belgian rider Fred De Bruyne won the race in the sprint of a ten-man group in Wetteren. 85 of the 174 riders finished.
The second running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday, 22 March 1914. Belgian Marcel Buysse won the race in a sprint of a seven-strong group on the velodrome of Evergem, part of Ghent. 19 of 47 riders finished. The race started and finished in Ghent.
The 50th Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Saturday, 9 April 1966. The race was won by Belgian rider Edward Sels in a sprint before Italian Adriano Durante. 60 of 151 riders finished.
The 64th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 30 March 1980. The race was won by Belgian Michel Pollentier, after an ultimate attack from his breakaway companions Francesco Moser and Jan Raas, at 700 m from the finish in Meerbeke. 46 of 179 riders finished.
The 66th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 4 April 1982. Belgian rider René Martens claimed a surprise victory after breaking away solo on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Eddy Planckaert won the sprint for second at 20 seconds, ahead of Rudy Pevenage. It was by and large Martens' biggest career victory. 51 of 212 riders finished.
The seventh running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 18 March 1923. Swiss rider Heiri Suter won the race in a three-man sprint with Belgians Charles Deruyter and Albert Dejonghe. Suter became the first non-Belgian winner of the Tour of Flanders. 43 of 86 riders finished.
 | This Tour of Flanders race article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |