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Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1979 edition | 1977 edition

David L. Stanley's book Melanoma: It Started with a Freckle is available as an audiobook voiced by the author here. For the print and kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

The Race:

The 1978 Paris-Roubix was 263 km long and raced at ana verage speed of 36.49 km/hr.

There were 141 starters and 40 classified finishers.

Rain hit the riders midway through the race.

Because Francesco Moser and Roger de Vlaeminck (who had won Milano-San Remo a few weeks before) were on the same team, they made a deal not to attack each other during Paris-Roubaix, which was important to both of them.

Moser initiated the winning move with 23 kilometers to go, taking along de Vlaeminck, Freddy Maertens and Jan Raas. A few kilometers later, on the Wannehain sector of cobbles (where de Vlaeminck had planned to escape) Moser attacked.

De Vlaeminck could only watch as Moser powered away to win his first Paris-Roubaix.

A mud-covered Francesco Moser on his way to winnng his first Paris-Roubaix.

Complete Results:

1. Francesco Moser (Sanson-Campagnolo) 7hr 12min 24sec.

2. Roger de Vlaeminck (Sanson-Campagnolo) @ 1min 40sec
3. Jan Raas (TI-Raleigh) s.t.
4. Freddy Maertens (Flandria-Velda) s.t.
5. Ferdi Van den Haute (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) @ 4min 11sec
6. Hennie Kuiper (TI-Raleigh) @ 4min 26sec
7. Guido Van Sweelvelt (Ijsboerke) @ 5min 21sec
8. Herman van Springel (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) s.t.
9. Ronan Demeyer (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) s.t.
10. Marc Demeyer (Flandria-Velda) @ 5min 49sec
11. Walter Godefroot (Ijsboerke) s.t.
12. Dietrich Thurau (Ijsboerke) s.t.
13. Bernard Hinault (Renault-Gitane) @ 7min 19sec
14. Piet van Katwijk (TI-Raleigh) s.t.
15. Willy Teirlinck (Renault-Gitane) s.t.
16. Pol Verschuere (Flandria-Velda) @ 9min 55sec
17. Marcello Osler (Selle Royal-Inoxpran) @ 10min 47sec
18. Gregor Braun (Peugeot) @ 11min 45sec
19. Cees Bal (Bode Deuren) @ 12min 40sec
20. Jan Aling (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) s.t.
21. Walter Naegels (Avia-Groene Leeuw) s.t.
22. Joop Zoetemelk (Miko-Mercier) @ 15min 9sec
23. José De Cauwer (TI-Raleigh) @ 17min 2sec
24. Alain De Saever (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) s.t.
25. Cees Priem (TI-Raleigh) s.t.
26. Joseph Jacobs (Ijsboerke) s.t.
27. Lieven Malfait (Avia-Groene Leeuw) @ 18min 21sec
28. Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (Peugeot) s.t.
29. Henk Lubberding (TI-Raleigh) s.t.
30. Yves Hézard (Peugeot) s.t.
31. Dirk Baert (Carlos-Galli) @ 21min 49sec
32. Yvon Bertin (Renault-Gitane) s.t.
33. Jan Van Katwijk (Marc-Zeepcentrale-Superia) s.t.
34. Herman Beysens (Flandria-Velda) s.t.
35. Frans Van Vlierberghe (Carlos-Galli) s.t.
36. Roger Verschaeve (Flandria-Velda) @ 28min 18sec
37. Franky de Gendt (TI-Raleigh) @ 31min 47sec
38. Jorgen Marcussen (Avia-Groene Leeuw) @ 50min 32sec
39. Col Moritz (Bode Deuren) s.t.
40. Luc de Keyser (Avia-Groene Leeuw) @ 56min 40sec