Tour de France 1978 : the real numbers of doping

The dirtiest Tour de France in history?
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Last update 27/08/2025 - cyclisme-dopage.com

Statistics

The table below establishes, team by team, the count of the riders who have been or will be subsequently "pinned" in doping cases.

Teams Riders Pinned Top 10 Pinned Podium Pinned
PEUGEOT-ESSO-MICHELIN 10 9 0 0 0 0
TI-RALEIGH 10 5 2 1 0 0
C & A 10 3 2 2 0 0
KAS-CAMPAGNOLO 10 5 1 0 0 0
MIKO-MERCIER-HUTCHINSON 10 9 2 2 1 1
RENAULT-GITANE-CAMPAGNOLO 10 7 1 1 1 1
TEKA 10 6 0 0 0 0
LEJEUNE-B.P 10 5 0 0 0 0
FIAT-FRANCE 10 2 0 0 0 0
VELDA-LANO-FLANDRIA 10 6 1 1 1 1
JOBO-SUPERIA 10 4 1 1 0 0
Total 110 61 10 8 3 3
Pourcentage 55% 80% 100%

Pinned: Number of riders who violated the anti-doping rules.
Included in this category: riders who have been tested positive (including refuse to submit to doping control or hematocrit> 50%), having acknowledged having doped, having been sanctioned (by the justice, their federation or their team).
Not included (for example) : those whose sample B was negative.
Top 10: number of riders present in the top 10 of the final general classification.
Podium: number of riders present in the first 3 of the final general classification.

Other data :


The official ranking

Ranking source : http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net (30/01/2008)

  1. Hinault Bernard in 112h03'02'' Yellow card 1982 : absence to control (no penalty)
  2. Zoetemelk Joop at 0h03'56'' Red card 1976 : confessions in 1977 (no penalty) ; 1977 : positive control ; 1978 : confessions in 1979 (no penalty) ; 1979 : positive control ; 1983 : positive control
  3. Agostinho Joaquim at 0h06'54'' Red card 1969 : positive control ; 1972 : positive control ; 1973 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control
  4. Bruyère Joseph at 0h09'04'' Red card 1974 : positive control ; 197x : confessions in 1988 (no penalty)
  5. Seznec Christian at 0h12'50'' Red card 1988 : positive control
  6. Wellens Paul at 0h14'38'' Yellow card 1985 : absence to control (sanction not known)
  7. Galdos Gauna Francisco at 0h17'08''
  8. Lubberding Henk at 0h17'26''
  9. Van Impe Lucien at 0h21'01'' Red card 1981 : absence to control
  10. Martinez Mariano at 0h22'58'' Yellow card 197x : confessions in 1997 (no penalty) ; 1980 : absence to control (no penalty)
  11. Nilsson Sven-ake at 0h23'00''
  12. Martin Raymond at 0h32'58'' Red card 1982 : positive control
  13. Maertens Freddy at 0h34'26'' Red card 1974 : positive control (sanction not known) ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : confessions in 1978 (no penalty) ; 1978 : police investigation (sanction not known) ; 1986 : positive control (sanction not known)
  14. Laurent Michel at 0h40'00''
  15. Romero André at 0h49'34'' Red card 1975 : positive control
  16. Janssens Edward at 0h51'19''
  17. Hézard Yves at 0h53'20'' Red card 1971 : positive control
  18. Menendez Antonio at 0h53'28'' Red card 1977 : positive control ; 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
  19. Bittinger René at 0h53'47''
  20. De Schoenmaecker Joseph at 0h54'14''
  21. Bazzo Pierre at 0h55'35'' Red card 1983 : positive control
  22. Martins José at 0h57'07'' Yellow card 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
  23. Lelay Gilbert at 0h57'40'' Red card 1979 : positive control
  24. Raas Jan at 0h58'43''
  25. Den Hertog Fedor at 1h01'46''
  26. Martens René at 1h02'29''
  27. Le Guilloux Maurice at 1h02'40'' Red card 1973 : positive control
  28. Bourreau Bernard at 1h06'34'' Red card 1976 : fraud (sanction not known) ; 1976 : fraud
  29. Perret Patrick Yellow card 1982 : absence to control (sanction not known)
  30. Julien Ferdinand at 1h06'45''
  31. Villemiane Pierre-raymond at 1h07'50'' Red card 1989 : positive control
  32. Pujol Juan at 1h08'20''
  33. Rouxel Charles at 1h09'19'' Yellow card 1975 : absence to control (sanction not known)
  34. Kelly Sean at 1h10'18'' Red card 1984 : positive control ; 1988 : positive control
  35. Thaler Klaus-peter at 1h10'22''
  36. Mollet André at 1h13'38'' Yellow card 1982 : confessions in 1987 (no penalty) ; 198x : judicial investigation and confessions (no penalty)
  37. Chaumaz Gilbert at 1h15'50'' Red card 1979 : positive control ; 1979 : absence to control
  38. Teirlinck Willy at 1h16'30'' Red card 1977 : positive control
  39. Oliva Andres at 1h20'06''
  40. Vilardebo Pedro at 1h21'27'' Red card 1978 : fraud
  41. Lasa Urquia Miguel-maria at 1h21'37'' Red card 1977 : positive control
  42. Legeay Roger at 1h29'39'' Red card 1974 : positive control
  43. Knetemann Gerrie at 1h30'10'' Yellow card 1974 : positive control (no penalty) ; 1977 : positive control (no penalty)
  44. Beyssens Herman at 1h31'58''
  45. Mathis Hubert at 1h34'40'' Red card 1982 : positive control
  46. Alfonsel Bernardo at 1h35'51''
  47. Wesemael Wilfried at 1h36'16''
  48. De Carvalho Alain at 1h39'48''
  49. Demeyer Marc at 1h40'50''
  50. Sanders Dominique at 1h41'26'' Red card 1981 : positive control
  51. Dillen René at 1h41'31''
  52. Didier Lucien at 1h44'44'' Red card 1982 : positive control
  53. Muselet Christian Yellow card 1986 : police investigation (no penalty)
  54. Patritti Alain at 1h50'07'' Red card 1977 : confessions in 1987 (no penalty) ; 1983 : police investigation
  55. De Cauwer Jose at 1h50'12'' Yellow card 2000 : confessions in 2005 (no penalty)
  56. Van Vlierberghe Albert at 1h52'03''
  57. Van Den Hoek Aad at 1h53'13'' Red card 1972 : positive control
  58. Quilfen Bernard at 1h53'46''
  59. Tinazzi Marcel Red card 1982 : absence to control ; 1984 : positive control
  60. Laurens Marcel at 1h56'53''
  61. Esclassan Jacques at 2h00'25'' Yellow card 1978 : contrôle positif et aveux en 1978 (no penalty)
  62. Bossis Jacques at 2h02'36'' Red card 1983 : positive control
  63. Chalmel André at 2h03'23''
  64. Vandenbroucke Jean-luc at 2h04'07'' Red card 1976 : positive control ; 1976 : positive control ; 1976 : positive control (sanction not known) ; 1978 : positive control and confessions in 1978 (no penalty)
  65. Hoban Barry at 2h06'33'' Yellow card 1973 : positive control (sanction not known)
  66. Plet Eugene at 2h10'16''
  67. Beucherie Serge at 2h16'40''
  68. Durel Philippe at 2h17'13'' Red card 1981 : fraud
  69. Gauthier Jean-louis at 2h17'16''
  70. Sherwen Paul at 2h18'54''
  71. Budet Alain at 2h20'13''
  72. Bertolo Dino at 2h25'50''
  73. Fussien Jean-jacques at 2h27'02''
  74. Bertin Yvon at 2h36'31''
  75. Gisiger Daniel at 2h49'16'' Yellow card 198x : confessions in 2007 (no penalty)
  76. Delépine Régis at 3h02'41'' Red card 1975 : positive control
  77. Cocolo Dante at 3h24'18''
  78. Tesnière Philippe at 3h52'26''

Red card reports a rider who was sanctioned in a doping case
Yellow card reports a rider pinned in our doping directory but who has not been sanctioned or whose we are not aware of the possible sanction


The alternative ranking

The ranking as it would be if we excluded all racers "pinned" in doping cases during their career.

  1. Galdos Francisco
  2. Lubberding Henk
  3. Nilsson Sven-ake
  4. Laurent Michel
  5. Janssens Edward
  6. Bittinger René
  7. De Schoenmaecker Joseph
  8. Raas Jan
  9. Den Hertog Fedor
  10. Martens René
  11. Julien Ferdinand
  12. Pujol Juan
  13. Thaler Klaus-peter
  14. Oliva Andrès
  15. Beyssens Herman
  16. Alfonsel Bernardo
  17. Wesemael Wilfried
  18. De Carvalho Alain
  19. Demeyer Marc
  20. Dillen René
  21. Van Vlierberghe Albert
  22. Quilfen Bernard
  23. Laurens Marcel
  24. Chalmel André
  25. Plet Eugène
  26. Beucherie Serge
  27. Gauthier Jean-louis
  28. Sherwen Paul
  29. Budet Alain
  30. Bertolo Dino
  31. Fussien Jean-jacques
  32. Bertin Yvon
  33. Coccolo Dante
  34. Tesnière Philippe


List of doping cases during the race

Rider Product Race Year Sanction Control
Gutierrez Antoine Tour de France 1978 Oui Fraude au contrôle
Nazabal José Tour de France 1978 Oui Contrôle positif
Pollentier Michel Tour de France 1978 Oui Fraude au contrôle
Zoetemelk Joop Anabolisants Tour de France 1978 Non Aveux en 1979


The list of participants

The list of participants by team

PEUGEOT-ESSO-MICHELIN

67 years of existence, 76 cases, ie 1,13 per year

1. Thevenet Bernard Red card 1976 : 2 positive controls (sanction not known) ; 1977 : positive control ; 197x : confessions in 1978 (no penalty)
2. Bourreau Bernard Red card 1976 : fraud (sanction not known) ; 1976 : fraud
3. Danguillaume Jean-pierre Red card 1974 : positive control ; 197x : confessions in 1978 (no penalty)
4. Delépine Régis Red card 1975 : positive control
5. Esclassan Jacques Yellow card 1978 : contrôle positif et aveux en 1978 (no penalty)
6. Hézard Yves Red card 1971 : positive control
7. Laurent Michel
8. Ovion Régis Red card 1976 : positive control
9. Sibille Guy Red card 1976 : positive control ; 1977 : absence to control
10. Vandenbroucke Jean-luc Red card 1976 : positive control ; 1976 : positive control ; 1976 : positive control (sanction not known) ; 1978 : positive control and confessions in 1978 (no penalty)

TI-RALEIGH

20 years of existence, 9 cases, ie 0,45 per year

11. Kuiper Hennie
12. De Cauwer Jose Yellow card 2000 : confessions in 2005 (no penalty)
13. Karstens Gerben Red card 1969 : positive control ; 1974 : absence to control ; 1974 : fraud
14. Knetemann Gerrie Yellow card 1974 : positive control (no penalty) ; 1977 : positive control (no penalty)
15. Lubberding Henk
16. Raas Jan
17. Thaler Klaus-peter
18. Van Den Hoek Aad Red card 1972 : positive control
19. Wellens Paul Yellow card 1985 : absence to control (sanction not known)
20. Wesemael Wilfried

C & A

21. Van Impe Lucien Red card 1981 : absence to control
22. Bruyère Joseph Red card 1974 : positive control ; 197x : confessions in 1988 (no penalty)
23. De Schoenmaecker Joseph
24. Dillen René
25. Janssens Edward
26. Laurens Marcel
27. Loos Ludo
28. Martin Jacques
29. Martens René
30. Planckaert Walter Red card 1977 : positive control

KAS-CAMPAGNOLO

22 years of existence, 10 cases, ie 0,45 per year

31. Galdos Gauna Francisco
32. Andiano Julian
33. Cima José-enrique Yellow card 1979 : positive control (sanction not known) ; 1982 : positive control (sanction not known)
34. Fernandez Ovies Faustino Red card 1979 : positive control
35. Martinez Heredia Enrique
36. Nazabal José Red card 1978 : positive control ; 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
37. Pesarrodona José
38. Pujol Juan
39. Pozo Sebastian Red card 1977 : absence to control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
40. Suarez Cueva Jésus Yellow card 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)

MIKO-MERCIER-HUTCHINSON

45 years of existence, 32 cases, ie 0,71 per year

41. Zoetemelk Joop Red card 1976 : confessions in 1977 (no penalty) ; 1977 : positive control ; 1978 : confessions in 1979 (no penalty) ; 1979 : positive control ; 1983 : positive control
42. Hoban Barry Yellow card 1973 : positive control (sanction not known)
43. Le Guilloux Maurice Red card 1973 : positive control
44. Martin Raymond Red card 1982 : positive control
45. Mathis Hubert Red card 1982 : positive control
46. Mollet André Yellow card 1982 : confessions in 1987 (no penalty) ; 198x : judicial investigation and confessions (no penalty)
47. Nilsson Sven-ake
48. Perret Patrick Yellow card 1982 : absence to control (sanction not known)
49. Seznec Christian Red card 1988 : positive control
50. Rouxel Charles Yellow card 1975 : absence to control (sanction not known)

RENAULT-GITANE-CAMPAGNOLO

24 years of existence, 22 cases, ie 0,92 per year

51. Hinault Bernard Yellow card 1982 : absence to control (no penalty)
52. Bernaudeau Jean-rené Yellow card 1982 : absence to control (no penalty) ; 1985 : confessions in 1990 (no penalty) ; 1986 : absence to control (sanction not known)
53. Bertin Yvon
54. Bossis Jacques Red card 1983 : positive control
55. Chalmel André
56. Chaumaz Gilbert Red card 1979 : positive control ; 1979 : absence to control
57. Didier Lucien Red card 1982 : positive control
58. Quilfen Bernard
59. Teirlinck Willy Red card 1977 : positive control
60. Villemiane Pierre-raymond Red card 1989 : positive control

TEKA

15 years of existence, 19 cases, ie 1,27 per year

61. Torres Pedro
62. Alfonsel Bernardo
63. Elorriaga Javier
64. Garcia Pereda Eulalio Red card 1978 : fraud
65. Lasa Urquia Miguel-maria Red card 1977 : positive control
66. Martinez Paulino Red card 1982 : positive control
67. Martins José Yellow card 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
68. Menendez Antonio Red card 1977 : positive control ; 1979 : positive control (sanction not known)
69. Oliva Andres
70. Vilardebo Pedro Red card 1978 : fraud

LEJEUNE-B.P

18 years of existence, 19 cases, ie 1,06 per year

71. Legeay Roger Red card 1974 : positive control
72. Bazzo Pierre Red card 1983 : positive control
73. Den Hertog Fedor
74. Friou Patrick
75. Gallopin Joel Red card 1979 : positive control
76. Gauthier Jean-louis
77. Gisiger Daniel Yellow card 198x : confessions in 2007 (no penalty)
78. Gutierez Antoine Red card 1978 : fraud ; 1979 : positive control
79. Le Denmat Michel
80. Plet Eugene

FIAT-FRANCE

2 years of existence, 1 case, ie 0,5 per year

81. Fussien Jean-jacques
82. Beucherie Serge
83. Budet Alain
84. De Carvalho Alain
85. Hardy Jacky
86. Lelay Gilbert Red card 1979 : positive control
87. Sanders Dominique Red card 1981 : positive control
88. Tesnière Philippe
89. Van Vlaslaer Didier
90. Sherwen Paul

VELDA-LANO-FLANDRIA

22 years of existence, 28 cases, ie 1,27 per year

91. Maertens Freddy Red card 1974 : positive control (sanction not known) ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1977 : confessions in 1978 (no penalty) ; 1978 : police investigation (sanction not known) ; 1986 : positive control (sanction not known)
92. Pollentier Michel Red card 1974 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control ; 1978 : fraud
93. Agostinho Joaquim Red card 1969 : positive control ; 1972 : positive control ; 1973 : positive control ; 1977 : positive control
94. Beyssens Herman
95. Bittinger René
96. Demeyer Marc
97. Kelly Sean Red card 1984 : positive control ; 1988 : positive control
98. Muselet Christian Yellow card 1986 : police investigation (no penalty)
99. Tinazzi Marcel Red card 1982 : absence to control ; 1984 : positive control
100. Van Vlierberghe Albert

JOBO-SUPERIA

4 years of existence, 4 cases, ie 1 per year

101. Martinez Mariano Yellow card 197x : confessions in 1997 (no penalty) ; 1980 : absence to control (no penalty)
102. Bertolo Dino
103. Biderre Jean-pierre
104. Cocolo Dante
105. Durel Philippe Red card 1981 : fraud
106. Inaudi Hervé
107. Julien Ferdinand
108. Patritti Alain Red card 1977 : confessions in 1987 (no penalty) ; 1983 : police investigation
109. Pescheux Jean-françois
110. Romero André Red card 1975 : positive control

Red card reports a rider who was sanctioned in a doping case
Yellow card reports a rider pinned in our doping directory but who has not been sanctioned or whose we are not aware of the possible sanction


Revue de presse du Tour de France 1978


See also