1981 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

1981 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

Race details
Dates	26 May – 2 June 1981
Stages	7 + Prologue
Distance	1,287.5 km (800.0 mi)
Winning time	36h 22' 38"
Results
Winner Bernard Hinault (FRA) (Renault–Elf–Gitane)   Second Joaquim Agostinho (POR) (Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo)   Third Greg LeMond (USA) (Renault–Elf–Gitane) Points Bernard Hinault (FRA) (Renault–Elf–Gitane) Mountains Bernard Hinault (FRA) (Renault–Elf–Gitane)

The 1981 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was the 33rd edition of the cycle race and was held from 26 May to 2 June 1981. The race started in Grenoble and finished in Avignon. The race was won by Bernard Hinault of the Renault team.

Teams

Ten teams, containing a total of 99 riders, participated in the race:

• TI–Raleigh–Creda
• Renault–Elf–Gitane
• Peugeot–Esso–Michelin
• DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or
• Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo
• Splendor–Wickes Bouwmarkt–Europ Decor
• Teka–Campagnolo
• Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo
• La Redoute–Motobécane
• Miko–Mercier–Vivagel

Route

Stage characteristics and winners

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
P	26 May	Grenoble	3 km (1.9 mi)		Individual time trial	Johan van der Velde (NED)
1	27 May	Grenoble to Saint-Étienne	207 km (129 mi)			Adri van der Poel (NED)
2	28 May	Saint-Étienne to Montceau-les-Mines	215.5 km (133.9 mi)			Sean Kelly (IRL)
3a	29 May	Montceau-les-Mines to Mâcon	102 km (63 mi)			William Tackaert (BEL)
3b	29 May	Mâcon to Bourg-en-Bresse	40 km (25 mi)		Individual time trial	Bert Oosterbosch (NED)
4	30 May	Lyon to Lyon	207.5 km (128.9 mi)			Bernard Hinault (FRA)
5	31 May	Lyon to Chambéry	180 km (110 mi)			Bernard Hinault (FRA)
6	1 June	Chambéry to Chambéry	134.5 km (83.6 mi)			Bernard Hinault (FRA)
7	2 June	Valence to Avignon	198 km (123 mi)			Bernard Hinault (FRA)

General classification

Final general classification Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bernard Hinault (FRA) Renault–Elf–Gitane 36h 22' 38" 2 Joaquim Agostinho (POR) Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo + 12' 07" 3 Greg LeMond (USA) Renault–Elf–Gitane + 13' 05" 4 Christian Seznec (FRA) Miko–Mercier–Vivagel + 14' 17" 5 Eddy Schepers (BEL) DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or + 14' 30" 6 Robert Millar (GBR) Peugeot–Esso–Michelin + 14' 57" 7 Michel Laurent (FRA) Peugeot–Esso–Michelin + 14' 58" 8 Philippe Martinez (FRA) Peugeot–Esso–Michelin + 16' 30" 9 Manuel Esparza (ESP) Teka–Campagnolo + 18' 35" 10 Robert Alban (FRA) La Redoute–Motobécane + 18' 36"

Further reading

• "Van der Poel, al trono, de momento..." [Van der Poel, to the throne, for now...] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 27 May 1981. p. 31.
• "Peeters manda, Hinault amenaza" [Peeters in charge, Hinault threatens] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 29 May 1981. p. 14.
• "Hinault, primer zarpazo en el "Dauphine"" [Hinault, first blow in the "Dauphine"] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 30 May 1981. p. 25.
• "Holocausto Español, con Marino a 21'" [Spanish Holocaust, with Marino at 21'] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 31 May 1981. p. 30.
• "Hinault hace lo que le da la gana en el "Dauphine"" [Hinault does what he wants in the "Dauphine"] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 June 1981. p. 34.
• "Termino la excursion de Hinault por los Alpes" [The Hinault tour through the Alps finished] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 3 June 1981. p. 27.