 The race began with 70 riders from fifteen different countries , of which eighteen managed to finish the race . Reigning champion , Felice Gimondi , started the race despite sustaining injuries from a fall in the Bernocchi Cup the week beforehand . The Belgian team featured the riders Eddy Merckx , Herman Van Springel , Freddy Maertens , Patrick Sercu , and Roger De Vlaeminck , which cycling author William Fotheringham believed to be one of the best Belgian teams to race at the World Championships . Gianni Pignata of La Stampa believed that the race would likely be won by an Italian or a Belgian rider , but stated that Dutchman Gerrie Knetemann and Spaniard Luis Ocaña were dark @-@ horse candidates for the victory . In particular , young Italian Francesco Moser was expected to provide race favorite Merckx with " stiff competition . " De Telegraaf writer Charles Taylor believed that José Manuel Fuente would be the best Spanish candidate for victory since Ocaña had recently recovered from sickness and injuries from crashes in different races . Taylor stated that there was no serious Dutch contender that could challenge the favorite , Merckx . 
