 Route of the 1972 Tour de France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dates | 1–22 July 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 20 + Prologue, including four split stages | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,846 km (2,390 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 108h 17' 18" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1972 Tour de France was the 59th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 1 to 22 July, with 20 stages covering a distance of 3,846 km (2,390 mi). After riding strongly in the first two weeks of the race and being the closest GC contender to Eddy Merckx, Luis Ocaña crashed, in the Pyrenees, leaving Merckx to battle Cyrille Guimard for the win. Guimard, having won four stages, had to leave the race after stage 17 in second place (he already was 7:58 behind at that point), but was given the combativity award after the race.[1]