1981 Tour de France

The 68th Tour de France takes place from 25 June to 19 July in 1981 and resulted in 22 stages over 3756 km. The tour ended with a relatively clear victory for the Frenchman Bernard Hinault. It was attended by 150 racers participated in the tour, of which 121 were classified.

Race course

After the prologue took over the reigning World Champion Hinault the overall lead. Of the two team time trial benefited the Dutch Gerrie plasticine man who was allowed to wear the yellow jersey for a few days after the two victories of his team Raleigh.

The first stage in the Pyrenees won the Belgian Lucien Van Impe, by his second place at this stage, however, Hinault took back the overall lead and defended it to the finish in Paris. The three individual time trial, which he won all of them, he extended his lead even more, and so won his third Tour de France after 1978 and 1979. Van Impe was second with nearly a quarter of an hour behind, last year's winner Joop Zoetemelk fourth.

The green jersey secured Freddy Maertens, which reached almost twice as many points as the runner-up after his six stage wins in the sprint. Even the mountain jersey went with Van Impe to a Belgian.

The stages

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