List of teams and cyclists in the 1972 Tour de France

The 1972 Tour de France started with the following 12 teams, each with 11 cyclists:[1]

In the previous year, Ocana was on his way to beat Merckx, when he fell as leader and had to give up. Everybody expected Merckx and Ocana to battle for the victory in 1972.[1] Ocana felt that he could have won the 1971 Tour, and Merckx did not like the comments that he did not deserve the 1971 victory, and both wanted to show their strengths.[2] Merckx had won important races before the Tour started, including the 1972 Giro d'Italia, and was also the reigning world champion. Ocana had won less races, but won the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré.[2]

The most important other participants were considered Raymond Poulidor, Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk and Bernard Thévenet.[2]

José Manuel Fuente, who had won the 1972 Vuelta a España and finished second in the 1972 Giro d'Italia, did not compete, as his team decided they had already been in too many hard races.[3]

Herman Van Springel had announced four days prior to the Tour that he would leave his team after his contract would end at the end of 1972. His team then removed him from the Tour squad.[4]

Start list

By team

Molteni
No. Rider Pos.
1  Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1
2  Joseph Bruyère (BEL) 26
3  Jos Deschoenmaecker (BEL) 22
4  Jos Huysmans (BEL) 28
5  Willy In 't Ven (BEL) 51
6  Marc Lievens (BEL) 43
7  Frans Mintjens (BEL) 37
8  Jozef Spruyt (BEL) DNF
9  Roger Swerts (BEL) 14
10  Martin Van Den Bossche (BEL) 15
11  Victor Van Schil (BEL) DNF
Beaulieu–Flandria
No. Rider Pos.
12  Joaquim Andrade (POR) DNF
13  Gérard David (BEL) 59
14  Johan De Muynck (BEL) DNF
15  André Dierickx (BEL) DNF
16  Evert Dolman (NED) 83
17  Fernando Mendes (POR) DNF
18  Jan Van De Wiele (BEL) DNF
19  Herman Van Der Slagmolen (BEL) DNF
20  Ronny Van Marcke (BEL) 62
21  Willy Van Neste (BEL) 33
22  Joop Zoetemelk (NED) 5
Sonolor
No. Rider Pos.
23  José Catieau (FRA) DNF
24  Bernard Guyot (FRA) 81
25  Yves Hézard (FRA) 7
26  Robert Mintkiewicz (FRA) 87
27  Mathieu Pustjens (NED) 25
28  Walter Ricci (FRA) 27
29  Raymond Riotte (FRA) 48
30  Jean-Jacques Sanquer (FRA) DNF
31  Willy Teirlinck (BEL) 66
32  Lucien Van Impe (BEL) 4
33  Daniel Van Ryckeghem (BEL) DNF
Peugeot–BP–Michelin
No. Rider Pos.
34  Robert Bouloux (FRA) DNF
35  Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA) 21
36  Wilfried David (BEL) 41
37  Raymond Delisle (FRA) 11
38  Ronald De Witte (BEL) 31
39  Walter Godefroot (BEL) 44
40  Jean-Pierre Paranteau (FRA) 38
41  Roger Pingeon (FRA) DNF
42  Christian Raymond (FRA) 47
43  Bernard Thévenet (FRA) 9
44  Jürgen Tschan (FRG) 45
De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter
No. Rider Pos.
45  Willy Abbeloos (BEL) 65
46  Joaquim Agostinho (POR) 8
47  Herman Beysens (BEL) 23
48  Edward Janssens (BEL) 10
49  Roger Kindt (BEL) DNF
50  Mariano Martínez (FRA) 6
51  Joël Millard (FRA) 32
52  Jean-Claude Largeau (FRA) 46
53  André Poppe (BEL) DNF
54  Rik Van Linden (BEL) 80
55  Ludo Van Staeyen (BEL) 49
Bic
No. Rider Pos.
56  Jesús Aranzabal (ESP) 56
57  Roland Berland (FRA) 40
58  Jean-Claude Genty (FRA) 64
59  Bernard Labourdette (FRA) DNF
60  Désiré Letort (FRA) DNF
61  Leif Mortensen (DEN) 12
62  Luis Ocaña (ESP) DNF
63  Alain Santy (FRA) DNF
64  Guy Santy (FRA) 29
65  Johny Schleck (LUX) 30
66  Sylvain Vasseur (FRA) 35
Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson
No. Rider Pos.
67  Jacques Cadiou (FRA) DNF
68  Régis Delépine (FRA) 76
69  Jean-Pierre Genet (FRA) DNF
70  René Grelin (FRA) DNF
71  Cyrille Guimard (FRA) DNF
72  Barry Hoban (GBR) 70
73  Gérard Moneyron (FRA) 36
74  Jack Mourioux (FRA) 58
75  Michel Périn (FRA) 19
76  Raymond Poulidor (FRA) 3
77  Yves Ravaleu (FRA) DNF
Rokado
No. Rider Pos.
78  Lucien Aimar (FRA) 17
79  Gilbert Bellone (FRA) 34
80  Hans Junkermann (FRG) DNF
81  Gerben Karstens (NED) 60
82  Karl-Heinz Kunde (FRG) 20
83  Karl-Heinz Muddemann (FRG) 52
84  Wilfried Peffgen (FRG) 63
85  Dieter Puschel (FRG) 42
86  Bernd Rasing (FRG) DNF
87  Wim Schepers (NED) DNF
88  Rolf Wolfshohl (FRG) 24
Salvarani
No. Rider Pos.
89  Marino Basso (ITA) 82
90  Pietro Campagnari (ITA) 74
91  Luigi Castelletti (ITA) 85
92  Felice Gimondi (ITA) 2
93  Ercole Gualazzini (ITA) DNF
94  Pietro Guerra (ITA) 86
95  Antoon Houbrechts (BEL) 13
96  Primo Mori (ITA) 39
97  Guido Reybrouck (BEL) DNF
98  Giacinto Santambrogio (ITA) 53
99  Italo Zilioli (ITA) DNF
Goudsmit–Hoff
No. Rider Pos.
100  Leo Duyndam (NED) DNF
101  Ger Harings (NED) DNF
102  Cees Koeken (NED) DNF
103  Jan Krekels (NED) 78
104  Wim Prinsen (NED) 61
105  Tino Tabak (NED) 18
106  Jos van der Vleuten (NED) 73
107  Jan van Katwijk (NED) DNF
108  Harry van Leeuwen (NED) DNF
109  Gerard Vianen (NED) 71
110  Marinus Wagtmans (NED) 54
Gitane
No. Rider Pos.
111  Alain Bellouis (FRA) 88
112  Serge Bolley (FRA) DNF
113  Gérard Briend (FRA) DNF
114  Georges Chappe (FRA) 50
115  Jean-Claude Daunat (FRA) 72
116  René Grenier (FRA) 57
117  Loïc Le Bourhis (FRA) DNF
118  Pierre Matignon (FRA) 75
119  Léon-Paul Ménard (FRA) 84
120  Jean Vidament (FRA) DNF
121  Michael Wright (GBR) 55
Watney–Avia
No. Rider Pos.
122  Paul Aerts (BEL) 69
123  Etienne Antheunis (BEL) DNF
124  Michel Coulon (BEL) DNF
125  Pieter Nassen (BEL) 79
126  Englebert Opdebeeck (BEL) DNF
127  Walter Planckaert (BEL) DNF
128  Marc Sohet (BEL) 68
129  Noël Van Clooster (BEL) 77
130  Willy Van Malderghem (BEL) DNF
131  Frans Verbeeck (BEL) 16
132  Eddy Verstraeten (BEL) 67

By rider

Legend
No. Starting number worn by the rider during the Tour
Pos. Position in the general classification
DNF Denotes a rider who did not finish
No. Name Nationality Team Pos. Ref
1 Eddy Merckx  Belgium Molteni 1 [5]
2 Joseph Bruyère  Belgium Molteni 26 [5]
3 Jos Deschoenmaecker  Belgium Molteni 22 [5]
4 Jos Huysmans  Belgium Molteni 28 [5]
5 Willy In 't Ven  Belgium Molteni 51 [5]
6 Marc Lievens  Belgium Molteni 43 [5]
7 Frans Mintjens  Belgium Molteni 37 [5]
8 Jozef Spruyt  Belgium Molteni DNF [5]
9 Roger Swerts  Belgium Molteni 14 [5]
10 Martin Van Den Bossche  Belgium Molteni 15 [5]
11 Victor Van Schil  Belgium Molteni DNF [5]
12 Joaquim Andrade  Portugal Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
13 Gérard David  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria 59 [5]
14 Johan De Muynck  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
15 André Dierickx  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
16 Evert Dolman  Netherlands Beaulieu–Flandria 83 [5]
17 Fernando Mendes  Portugal Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
18 Jan Van De Wiele  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
19 Herman Van Der Slagmolen  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria DNF [5]
20 Ronny Van Marcke  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria 62 [5]
21 Willy Van Neste  Belgium Beaulieu–Flandria 33 [5]
22 Joop Zoetemelk  Netherlands Beaulieu–Flandria 5 [5]
23 José Catieau  France Sonolor DNF [5]
24 Bernard Guyot  France Sonolor 81 [5]
25 Yves Hézard  France Sonolor 7 [5]
26 Robert Mintkiewicz  France Sonolor 87 [5]
27 Mathieu Pustjens  Netherlands Sonolor 25 [5]
28 Walter Ricci  France Sonolor 27 [5]
29 Raymond Riotte  France Sonolor 48 [5]
30 Jean-Jacques Sanquer  France Sonolor DNF [5]
31 Willy Teirlinck  Belgium Sonolor 66 [5]
32 Lucien Van Impe  Belgium Sonolor 4 [5]
33 Daniel Van Ryckeghem  Belgium Sonolor DNF [5]
34 Robert Bouloux  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin DNF [5]
35 Jean-Pierre Danguillaume  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin 21 [5]
36 Wilfried David  Belgium Peugeot–BP–Michelin 41 [5]
37 Raymond Delisle  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin 11 [5]
38 Ronald De Witte  Belgium Peugeot–BP–Michelin 31 [5]
39 Walter Godefroot  Belgium Peugeot–BP–Michelin 44 [5]
40 Jean-Pierre Paranteau  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin 38 [5]
41 Roger Pingeon  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin DNF [5]
42 Christian Raymond  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin 47 [5]
43 Bernard Thévenet  France Peugeot–BP–Michelin 9 [5]
44 Jürgen Tschan  West Germany Peugeot–BP–Michelin 45 [5]
45 Willy Abbeloos  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 65 [5]
46 Joaquim Agostinho  Portugal De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 8 [5]
47 Herman Beysens  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 23 [5]
48 Edward Janssens  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 10 [5]
49 Roger Kindt  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter DNF [5]
50 Mariano Martínez  France De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 6 [5]
51 Joël Millard  France De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 32 [5]
52 Jean-Claude Largeau  France De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 46 [5]
53 André Poppe  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter DNF [5]
54 Rik Van Linden  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 80 [5]
55 Ludo Van Staeyen  Belgium De Gribaldy–Magniflex–Van Cauter 49 [5]
56 Jesús Aranzabal  Spain Bic 56 [5]
57 Roland Berland  France Bic 40 [5]
58 Jean-Claude Genty  France Bic 64 [5]
59 Bernard Labourdette  France Bic DNF [5]
60 Désiré Letort  France Bic DNF [5]
61 Leif Mortensen  Denmark Bic 12 [5]
62 Luis Ocaña  Spain Bic DNF [5]
63 Alain Santy  France Bic DNF [5]
64 Guy Santy  France Bic 29 [5]
65 Johny Schleck  Luxembourg Bic 30 [5]
66 Sylvain Vasseur  France Bic 35 [5]
67 Jacques Cadiou  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson DNF [5]
68 Régis Delépine  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 76 [5]
69 Jean-Pierre Genet  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson DNF [5]
70 René Grelin  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson DNF [5]
71 Cyrille Guimard  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson DNF [5]
72 Barry Hoban  Great Britain Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 70 [5]
73 Gérard Moneyron  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 36 [5]
74 Jack Mourioux  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 58 [5]
75 Michel Périn  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 19 [5]
76 Raymond Poulidor  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson 3 [5]
77 Yves Ravaleu  France Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson DNF [5]
78 Lucien Aimar  France Rokado 17 [5]
79 Gilbert Bellone  France Rokado 34 [5]
80 Hans Junkermann  West Germany Rokado DNF [5]
81 Gerben Karstens  Netherlands Rokado 60 [5]
82 Karl-Heinz Kunde  West Germany Rokado 20 [5]
83 Karl-Heinz Muddemann  West Germany Rokado 52 [5]
84 Wilfried Peffgen  West Germany Rokado 63 [5]
85 Dieter Puschel  West Germany Rokado 42 [5]
86 Bernd Rasing  West Germany Rokado DNF [5]
87 Wim Schepers  Netherlands Rokado DNF [5]
88 Rolf Wolfshohl  West Germany Rokado 24 [5]
89 Marino Basso  Italy Salvarani 82 [5]
90 Pietro Campagnari  Italy Salvarani 74 [5]
91 Luigi Castelletti  Italy Salvarani 85 [5]
92 Felice Gimondi  Italy Salvarani 2 [5]
93 Ercole Gualazzini  Italy Salvarani DNF [5]
94 Pietro Guerra  Italy Salvarani 86 [5]
95 Antoon Houbrechts  Belgium Salvarani 13 [5]
96 Primo Mori  Italy Salvarani 39 [5]
97 Guido Reybrouck  Belgium Salvarani DNF [5]
98 Giacinto Santambrogio  Italy Salvarani 53 [5]
99 Italo Zilioli  Italy Salvarani DNF [5]
100 Leo Duyndam  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff DNF [5]
101 Ger Harings  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff DNF [5]
102 Cees Koeken  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff DNF [5]
103 Jan Krekels  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 78 [5]
104 Wim Prinsen  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 61 [5]
105 Tino Tabak  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 18 [5]
106 Jos van der Vleuten  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 73 [5]
107 Jan van Katwijk  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff DNF [5]
108 Harrie Van Leeuwen  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff DNF [5]
109 Gerard Vianen  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 71 [5]
110 Marinus Wagtmans  Netherlands Goudsmit–Hoff 54 [5]
111 Alain Bellouis  France Gitane 88 [5]
112 Serge Bolley  France Gitane DNF [5]
113 Gérard Briend  France Gitane DNF [5]
114 Georges Chappe  France Gitane 50 [5]
115 Jean-Claude Daunat  France Gitane 72 [5]
116 René Grenier  France Gitane 57 [5]
117 Loïc Le Bourhis  France Gitane DNF [5]
118 Pierre Matignon  France Gitane 75 [5]
119 Léon-Paul Ménard  France Gitane 84 [5]
120 Jean Vidament  France Gitane DNF [5]
121 Michael Wright  Great Britain Gitane 55 [5]
122 Paul Aerts  Belgium Watney–Avia 69 [5]
123 Etienne Antheunis  Belgium Watney–Avia DNF [5]
124 Michel Coulon  Belgium Watney–Avia DNF [5]
125 Pieter Nassen  Belgium Watney–Avia 79 [5]
126 Englebert Opdebeeck  Belgium Watney–Avia DNF [5]
127 Walter Planckaert  Belgium Watney–Avia DNF [5]
128 Marc Sohet  Belgium Watney–Avia 68 [5]
129 Noël Van Clooster  Belgium Watney–Avia 77 [5]
130 Willy Van Malderghem  Belgium Watney–Avia DNF [5]
131 Frans Verbeeck  Belgium Watney–Avia 16 [5]
132 Eddy Verstraeten  Belgium Watney–Avia 67 [5]

By nationality

References

  1. ^ a b "59ème Tour de France 1972" (in French). Memoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol (2008). The Story of the Tour De France: 1965-2007. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 66–73. ISBN 1-59858-608-4. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Spaanse Kas-ploeg niet aan de start in Tour de France". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). De krant van toen. 14 June 1972. p. 23. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Angers nog niet in ban wielercircus". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). De krant van toen. 1 July 1972. p. 11. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb "59ème Tour de France 1972". Memoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011.