1981 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 11 explained

The 1981 Tour de France was the 68th edition of Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Tour began in Nice with a prologue individual time trial on 25 June and Stage 12a occurred on 8 July with a flat stage to Brussels, Belgium. The race finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 19 July.

Prologue

25 June 1981 — Nice, 5.85km (03.64miles) (individual time trial)^[1]

Prologue result and general classification after prologue^[2]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 7"
3	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 14"
4	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 16"
5	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	s.t.
6	La Redoute–Motobécane	+ 17"
7	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	s.t.
8	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 19"
9	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
10	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 20"

Stage 1a

26 June 1981 — Nice, 97km (60miles)^[3]

Stage 1a result

Rank	Team	Time
1	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago
2	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
3	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
5	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
6	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	s.t.
7	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
8	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	s.t.
9	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
10	La Redoute–Motobécane	s.t.

General classification after stage 1a^[4]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 7"
3	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 14"
4	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 16"
5	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	s.t.
6	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 17"
7	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 19"
8	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
9	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 20"
10	Teka	+ 22"

Stage 1b

26 June 1981 — Nice, 40km (30miles) (team time trial)

Stage 1b result^[5]

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 29"
3	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 40"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 43"
5	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 50"
6	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	+ 51"
7	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 53"
8	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	+ 1' 10"
9	Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo	+ 1' 55"
10	Vermeer–Thijs–Gios	+ 2' 04"

General classification after stage 1b

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 13"
3	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 16"
4	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 22"
5	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 27"
6	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 28"
7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 30"
8	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 33"
9	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 38"
10	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 40"

Stage 2

27 June 1981 — Nice to Martigues, 254km (158miles)^[6]

Stage 2 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 6"
3	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 22"
4	Kelme	+ 25"
5	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
6	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
7	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
8	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	s.t.
9	Kelme	s.t.
10	Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo	s.t.

General classification after stage 2^[7]

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 13"
3	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 16"
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 27"
5	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 28"
6	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 30"
7	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 33"
8	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 36"
9	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 38"
10	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 40"

Stage 3

28 June 1981 — Martigues to Narbonne, 232.5km (144.5miles)^[8]

Stage 3 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.
3	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
4	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
5	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	s.t.
6	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
7	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
8	La Redoute–Motobécane	s.t.
9	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
10	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.

General classification after stage 3^[9]

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 1"
3	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 15"
4	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 16"
5	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 28"
6	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 30"
8	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 33"
9	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 40"
10	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 42"

Stage 4

29 June 1981 — Narbonne to Carcassonne, 77.2km (48miles) (team time trial)^[10]

Stage 4 result^[11]

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 19"
3	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 26"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 41"
5	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	+ 1' 02"
6	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	+ 1' 55"
7	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 1' 57"
8	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 2' 30"
9	La Redoute–Motobécane	+ 2' 56"
10	Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo	+ 3' 22"

General classification after stage 4

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 1"
3	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 16"
4	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 28"
5	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 30"
6	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 1' 43"
7	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 1' 57"
8	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 2' 01"
9	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
10	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 2' 04"

Stage 5

30 June 1981 — Saint-Gaudens to Pla d'Adet, 117.5km (73miles)

Stage 5 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	Boston–Mavic
2	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 27"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
4	Teka	s.t.
5	Teka	+ 1' 52"
6	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	+ 2' 08"
7	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	+ 2' 10"
8	Vermeer–Thijs–Gios	+ 2' 32"
9	La Redoute–Motobécane	+ 2' 37"
10	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	s.t.

General classification after stage 5^[12]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin
2	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 17"
3	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 3' 08"
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 3' 24"
5	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 3' 25"
6	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 3' 32"
7	Boston–Mavic	+ 3' 39"
8	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 3' 53"
9	Teka	s.t.
10	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	+ 4' 02"

Stage 6

1 July 1981 — Nay to Pau, 26.7km (16.6miles) (individual time trial)^[13]

Stage 6 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	TI–Raleigh–Creda	+ 1"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 16"
4	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 28"
5	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 30"
6	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 1' 43"
7	Vermeer–Thijs–Gios	+ 1' 57"
8	Teka	+ 2' 01"
9	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
10	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	+ 2' 04"

General classification after stage 6^[14]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 13"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 4' 30"
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 4' 52"
5	Boston–Mavic	+ 4' 58"
6	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 00"
7	Teka	+ 5' 23"
8	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
9	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 44"
10	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 5' 45"

Stage 7

2 July 1981 — Pau to Bordeaux, 227km (141miles)^[15]

Stage 7 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	s.t.
3	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
4	Teka	s.t.
5	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
6	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	s.t.
=7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.
=7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.
=7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.
=7	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.

General classification after stage 7^[16]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 33"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 4' 58"
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 20"
5	Boston–Mavic	+ 5' 26"
6	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 28"
7	Teka	+ 5' 51"
8	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
9	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 6' 05"
10	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 6' 12"

Stage 8

3 July 1981 — Rochefort to Nantes, 180km (110miles)^[17]

Stage 8 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	Kelme	s.t.
3	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	s.t.
4	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
5	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
6	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
7	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
8	Kelme	s.t.
9	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
10	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.

General classification after stage 8^[18]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 37"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 5' 10"
4	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 32"
5	Boston–Mavic	+ 5' 38"
6	Teka	+ 6' 03"
7	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.
8	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 6' 17"
9	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 6' 24"
10	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 6' 27"

Stage 9

5 July 1981 — Nantes to Le Mans, 194km (121miles)^[19]

Stage 9 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle
2	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 4"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 6"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
5	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	s.t.
6	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
7	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
8	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 2' 36"
9	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
10	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.

General classification after stage 9^[20]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 37"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 3' 31"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 3' 40"
5	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 5' 10"
6	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 5' 16"
7	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 32"
8	Boston–Mavic	+ 5' 38"
9	Teka	+ 6' 03"
10	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.

Stage 10

6 July 1981 — Le Mans to Aulnay-sous-Bois, 258.5km (160.6miles)^[21]

Stage 10 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	TI–Raleigh–Creda
2	La Redoute–Motobécane	s.t.
3	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	s.t.
4	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
5	Boston–Mavic	s.t.
6	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
7	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	s.t.
8	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
9	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
10	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.

General classification after stage 10^[22]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 41"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 3' 35"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 3' 44"
5	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 4' 31"
6	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 5' 20"
7	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 36"
8	Boston–Mavic	+ 5' 42"
9	Teka	+ 6' 07"
10	Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor	s.t.

Stage 11

7 July 1981 — Compiègne to Roubaix, 246km (153miles)

Stage 11 result

Rank	Team	Time
1	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
3	Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo	s.t.
4	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 5"
5	La Redoute–Motobécane	+ 7"
6	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.
7	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	s.t.
8	Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo	s.t.
9	Renault–Elf–Gitane	s.t.
10	TI–Raleigh–Creda	s.t.

General classification after stage 11^[23]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Renault–Elf–Gitane
2	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 41"
3	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 3' 28"
4	Renault–Elf–Gitane	+ 3' 44"
5	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin	+ 4' 31"
6	Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata	+ 5' 36"
7	Boston–Mavic	+ 5' 42"
8	Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago	+ 6' 21"
9	DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle	+ 6' 45"
10	Miko–Mercier–Vivagel	+ 7' 05"

Notes and References

Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 22. 26 June 1981. 17 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20120121062422/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981.php#Etapes. 21 January 2012.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 28. 27 June 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 1ère étape (a). Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803193936/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_1a.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 1ère étape (b). Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803183252/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_1b.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 24. 28 June 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 2ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803193936/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_2.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 24. 29 June 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 3ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803165620/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_3.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 24. 1 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 4ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803185135/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_4.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 5ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110804004701/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_5.php. 4 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 21. 2 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 6ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803173721/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_6.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 24. 3 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 7ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803183314/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_7.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 22. 4 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 8ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803190757/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_8.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 32. 6 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 9ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803185218/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_9.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: "Tour-81" Clasificaciones. Spanish. Tour 81 Classifications. El Mundo Deportivo. 22. 8 July 1981. 19 September 2016.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 10ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803173659/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_10.php. 3 August 2011.
Web site: 68ème Tour de France 1981 - 11ème étape. Memoire du cyclisme. https://web.archive.org/web/20110803175929/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1981_11.php. 3 August 2011.