1981 Vuelta a España

The 36th "Vuelta a España" (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 21 to May 10, 1981. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3446 km, and was won by Giovanni Battaglin of the Inoxpran cycling team.

Regis Clere won the prologue of the race and kept the leader’s jersey until the mountain time trial where on the steep climb to Sierra Nevada, Giovanni Battaglin won the stage and took over the leader’s jersey. The only threat to Battaglin’s lead was Pedro Muñoz. [cite web|url=http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/81infor.asp?a=1981&s=infor&t=infor&e=1|title=1981 General Information|publisher=La Vuelta.com|accessdate=2008-01-19] The entire Teka team withdrew from the race withdrawing potential favourites Marino Lejarreta and Alberto Fernández. [cite web|url=http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/82infor.asp?a=1982&s=infor&t=infor&e=1|title=1982 General Information|publisher=La Vuelta.com|accessdate=2008-01-19] Battaglin and his Inoxpran team withstood the challenge from the Spanish and brought Battaglin to his first grand tour victory. [cite web|url=http://www.bellatisport.com/shop/brand/1/Battaglin.html|title=Battaglin flies among the nest of eagles|publisher=Bellati sport.com|accessdate=2008-01-19] Three days later after Battalin’s triumph in Spain, he began the 1981 Giro d'Italia which he would win becoming only the second rider after Eddy Merckx to win the Vuelta-Giro double.

Results

Final General Classification

References

External links

* [http://www.lavuelta.com/ La Vuelta (Official site in Spanish, English, and French)]