The 56th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling race in Belgium was held on Sunday 9 April 1972.

Belgian Eric Leman won ahead of André Dierickx and Frans Verbeeck, winning the classic for the second time.

The race was run in bad weather, leading to a group of 30.

Eddy Merckx and Eric Leman broke away from the group, but Felice Gimondi brought the rest back.

Merckx, suffering severe back pain, was forced to walk up the Muur van Geraardsbergen, but returned afterwards.