60th Ronde van Vlaanderen 1976 / Tour of Flanders (Belgium)

The Breakaway Drops the Sprinters

SPECIAL NOTE: The "Koppenberg" was included on the race route for the first time. The climb was not originally listed and was a very late decision to be added. 

The late inclusion of the Koppenberg to the Tour of Flanders route proved to be decisive. The 11.6% average (22% max.) over loose cobblestones made this climb VERY difficult. When the peloton hit the climb only 5 riders reached the summit without walking. These 5 riders would not be caught.

When the lead group of 5 reached the final kilometer Italian Francesco Moser, Marc Demeyer, and Walter Planckaert slipped from Roger De Vlaeminck and Freddy Maertens. When the gap began to close powerful Belgian sprinter Marc Demeyer led out the sprint with Planckaert on his wheel. At the line Walter Planckaert jumped past for the victory. Moser cruised past Demeyer for second place.

Several seconds later Roger De Vlaeminck settled a personal score and out-sprinted Freddy Maertens for fourth place.

RVV 1975

RVV 1977

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