Lucien Van Impe, the winner of 1976, had broken his collarbone and was still recovering.[4]
The main contenders were debutant Hinault, who had won the 1978 Vuelta a España, and Joop Zoetemelk, who had already finished in second place for three times. Pre-race analysis judged Hinault better in the time trials, and Zoetemelk better in the mountains.[4]Bernard Thévenet, the winner of the 1977 Tour de France, was out of form, and not considered a favourite.[1]