A process for the preparation of ribavirin on an industrial scale is described which comprises the reaction of glycosylation of 3-substituted triazoles in the presence of a Lewis acid. Said process comprises: a) the reaction of a triazole of the formula ##STR00001## with a protected ribofuranose of the formula ##STR00002## b) the removal of the Pg groups and, optionally, the conversion into a carboxyamide group of the R.sub.2 group of the compound obtained of the formula ##STR00003## DD/mac--01.07.02.