Debutants
Claude Criquielion is the youngest debutant in Gent-Wevelgem in 1979. There are 37 debutants.
| # | Rider | Team | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CRIQUIELION Claude | Kas | 22y + 83d |
| 2 | PEVENAGE Patrick | Daf Trucks | 22y + 147d |
| 3 | SCHOONJANS Walter | Kas | 22y + 215d |
| 4 | WILLEMS Daniel | Ijsboerke - Warncke | 22y + 231d |
| 5 | BERNAUDEAU Jean-René | Renault - Gitane | 22y + 270d |
| 6 | WYNANTS Ludwig | Mini Flat - V.D.B. | 22y + 274d |
| 7 | BLOCKX Gérard | Kas | 22y + 282d |
| 8 | KELLY Sean | Splendor | 22y + 315d |
| 9 | CERVATO Silvano | Gis | 22y + 335d |
| 10 | COLMAN Rudy | Ijsboerke - Warncke | 23y + 79d |
| 11 | BRAUN Gregor | Peugeot - Esso | 23y + 94d |
| 12 | GAUTHIER Jean-Louis | Miko - Mercier | 23y + 103d |
| 13 | DEVOS Hendrik | Flandria - Ca Va Seul | 23y + 173d |
| 14 | MARTENS René | Flandria - Ca Va Seul | 23y + 312d |
| 15 | BECAAS Bernard | Renault - Gitane | 23y + 316d |
| 16 | VERBRUGGE Jacques | Daf Trucks | 23y + 345d |
| 17 | VAN DER AUWERA Benjamin | Lano - Boule d'Or | 24y + 3d |
| 18 | VAN HEERDEN Alan | Peugeot - Esso | 24y + 114d |
| 19 | PIRARD Frits | Miko - Mercier | 24y + 117d |
| 20 | POIRIER Christian | La Redoute - Motobecane | 24y + 119d |
| 21 | LEBAUD Didier | Miko - Mercier | 24y + 123d |
| 22 | MAAS Jo | Daf Trucks | 24y + 180d |
| 23 | VERLINDEN Gery | Ijsboerke - Warncke | 24y + 338d |
| 24 | DE BEULE Etienne | Kas | 25y + 135d |
| 25 | BERTIN Yvon | Renault - Gitane | 25y + 360d |
| 26 | RENIER Marc | Kas | 26y + 7d |
| 27 | PÉRIN Serge | Miko - Mercier | 26y + 21d |
| 28 | GALLOPIN Joël | Miko - Mercier | 26y + 65d |
| 29 | MASCIARELLI Palmiro | Sanson | 26y + 87d |
| 30 | VANOVERSCHELDE Didier | La Redoute - Motobecane | 26y + 364d |
| 31 | PESCHEUX Jean-François | La Redoute - Motobecane | 27y + 14d |
| 32 | FRACCARO Simone | Sanson | 27y + 93d |
| 33 | GOVAERTS Willy | Mini Flat - V.D.B. | 27y + 145d |
| 34 | NILSSON Sven-Åke | Miko - Mercier | 27y + 203d |
| 35 | VILLEMIANE Pierre-Raymond | Renault - Gitane | 28y + 23d |
| 36 | DIDIER Lucien | Renault - Gitane | 28y + 242d |
| 37 | BERLAND Roland | Renault - Gitane | 34y + 37d |