Flying stages
To generate extra income, stages were often split in two in the past; this meant two finishes in one day, and two cities paid money to the organizers. The riders were generally not happy about this.
In 1977, something new was introduced: the flying stage. The first stage of 1977 was split in two, but this time there was no stop at the halfway point (in Lectoure); everyone simply continued. The passage through Lectoure was recorded, and the first riders received prize money, bonus seconds, and points for the points classification as if it had been a normal finish.
In the following years, this was done more often, a total of fourteen times; the last (for now?) was in 1985. So it may have worked financially, but it was less successful in terms of publicity. Victories in flying stages are not counted as stage victories; they are considered more like glorified intermediate sprints. Often, a flying stage wasn't even mentioned in the stage reports. Below are the finishes I've been able to track down. My goal is to track down everyone who earned points for the points classification, which in most years was the top fifteen.
1977, stage 1
In 1977, stage 1 had a flying stage in Lectoure. The result:
1978, stage 21
In 1978, stage 21 had a flying stage in Soissons. The result:
1978, stage 21
In 1978, stage 21 had a flying stage in Compiegne. The result:
1980, stage 2
In 1980, stage 2 had a flying stage in Homburg-sur-Saar. The result:
1980, stage 2
In 1980, stage 2 had a flying stage in Felsberg. The result:
1980, stage 3
In 1980, stage 3 had a flying stage in Longwy. The result:
1981, stage 2
In 1981, stage 2 had a flying stage in Draguignan. The result:
1984, stage 2
In 1984, stage 2 had a flying stage in Soissons. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adrie van der Poel |
| 2 | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke |
| 3 | Jean-Louis Gauthier |
| 4 | Jean-François Rault |
| 5 | Theo de Rooij |
| 6 | ? |
| 7 | ? |
| 8 | ? |
| 9 | Frank Hoste |
| 10 | Noël Dejonckheere |
| 11 | ? |
| 12 | Francis Castaing |
| 13 | Sean Kelly |
| 14 | Allan Peiper |
| 15 | ? |
1984, stage 6
In 1984, stage 6 had a flying stage in Mantes-la-Jolie. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Vanderaerden |
| 2 | Francis Castaing |
| 3 | Noël Dejonckheere |
| 4 | Frank Hoste |
| 5 | Adrie van der Poel |
| 6 | ? |
| 7 | ? |
| 8 | Leo van Vliet |
| 9 | Sean Kelly |
| 10 | Jean-François Rault |
| 11 | ? |
| 12 | Eddy Planckaert |
| 13 | ? |
| 14 | ? |
| 15 | ? |
1984, stage 15
In 1984, stage 15 had a flying stage in Saint Agnan en Vercors. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pascal Jules |
| 2 | Eric Vanderaerden |
| 3 | Sean Kelly |
| 4 | Jean-François Rault |
| 5 | Leo van Vliet |
1984, stage 17
In 1984, stage 17 had a flying stage in Eybens. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frédéric Vichot |
| 2 | Michel Laurent |
| 3 | Sean Kelly |
| 4 | Frank Hoste |
| 5 | Jerôme Simon |
| 6 | ? |
| 7 | ? |
| 8 | ? |
| 9 | ? |
| 10 | ? |
| 11 | ? |
| 12 | ? |
| 13 | ? |
| 14 | Pascal Jules |
| 15 | ? |
1984, stage 21
In 1984, stage 21 had a flying stage in Jaint Julien-en-Genevois. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Kelly |
| 2 | Francis Castaing |
| 3 | Leo van Vliet |
| 4 | Régis Simon |
| 5 | Guy Gallopin |
| 6 | Frank Hoste |
| 7 | ? |
| 8 | Eric Vanderaerden |
| 9 | ? |
| 10 | Bernard Hinault |
1985, stage 4
In 1985, stage 4 had a flying stage in Quillebeuf-sur-Seine. The result:
| Rank | Rider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kim Andersen |
| 2 | Paul Haghedooren |
| 3 | Gerrit Solleveld |
| 4 | Hennie Kuiper |
| 5 | Bruno Leali |
| 6 | Gerard Veldscholten |
| 7 | Luis Alberto Herrera |
| 8 | Joël Pelier |
| 9 | Sean Kelly |
| 10 | Philippe Lauraire |
| 11 | Francis Castaing |
| 12 | Eric Vanderaerden |
| 13 | Adrie van der Poel |
| 14 | Rudy Matthijs |
1985, stage 11
In 1985, stage 11 had a flying stage in Lausanne. The result:
