1978 Tour de France
The 65th Tour de France was held to 23 July 1978 of 29 June. She led over 22 stages and 3914 km. The 23- year-old Frenchman Bernard Hinault won the same in his first Tour participation. Hinault had previously clinched the overall victory in the Vuelta a España in the spring. It was attended by 110 racers participated in the tour, was classified 78 of them.
Race course
In the first week the yellow jersey changed hands several times, among other things was the German Klaus -Peter Thaler for a stage win in a bunch sprint and take over the victory of his team TI- Raleigh in the team time trial for two days the bib of the leader of the general standings.
The first time trial Hinault won his first Tour stage, for the mountain stages, he remained close to his main opponent Joop Zoetemelk. This heavy ITT to the Puy de Dome decided, however, clearly for itself. The decision was made at the last big time trial two days before the end of the race, which in turn Hinault won and thus could take over the leadership of Zoetemelk final. Joaquim Agostinho was the first Portuguese third in the overall standings.
The tour in 1978 was overshadowed by a driver strike and a doping scandal: Just before the finish of the 12th stage stopped the peloton crossed the goal of walking. After the summit finish at L' Alpe d' Huez of driving in the yellow jersey Belgian Michel Pollen animal was excluded from the tour because he had tried to manipulate the doping sample with foreign urine. This year the tour is considered the " meistgedopteste " of the story: About 50 percent of drivers of their careers were getest positive in the course.