# 2001 Vuelta a España

The 56th edition of the Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance stage race and one of the three Grand Tours, was held from 8 September to 30 September 2001. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3,012 km (1,872 mi), and was won by Ángel Casero of the Festina cycling team at a speed of 42.534 km/h (26.429 mph).
This edition of the Vuelta was notable for its final-stage time trial, during which Casero overcame a 25-second lead held by Óscar Sevilla of Kelme–Costa Blanca to win, while American Levi Leipheimer of U.S. Postal Service managed to move past both teammate Roberto Heras and Juan Miguel Mercado to take third and become the first American ever to achieve a podium finish in the Vuelta. Additionally, Guido Trenti became the first American ever to win a stage in the race.

## Teams

A total of 21 teams were invited to participate in the 2001 Vuelta a España. Fifteen of the competing squads were UCI Division I teams, while the other six teams were UCI Division II. Mercury–Viatel, who were previously scheduled to ride, didn't start. Each team sent a squad of nine riders, so the Vuelta began with a peloton of 189 cyclists, a total of 139 riders made it to the finish in Madrid.
The 21 teams invited to the race were:
UCI Division I teams
* Cofidis
* Domo–Farm Frites–Latexco
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Festina
* iBanesto.com
* Kelme–Costa Blanca
* Lampre–Daikin
* Mapei–Quick-Step
* Mercatone Uno–Stream TV
* ONCE–Eroski
* Rabobank
* Saeco
* Team Coast–Buffalo
* Team Telekom
* U.S. Postal Service
UCI Division II teams
* Alessio
* Cantina Tollo–Acqua & Sapone
* Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo
* Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada
* Jazztel–Costa de Almería
* Milaneza–MSS

## Stages

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 8 September | Salamanca | 12 km (7 mi) | | Individual time trial | David Millar (GBR) |
| 2 | 9 September | Salamanca to Valladolid | 147.2 km (91 mi) | | Flat stage | Erik Zabel (GER) |
| 3 | 10 September | Valladolid to León | 140.5 km (87 mi) | | Flat stage | Erik Zabel (GER) |
| 4 | 11 September 2001 | León to Gijón | 175 km (109 mi) | | Flat stage | Erik Zabel (GER) |
| 5 | 12 September | Gijón to Lagos de Covadonga | 160.8 km (100 mi) | | Mountain stage | Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP) |
| 6 | 13 September | Cangas de Onís to Torrelavega | 180.6 km (112 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | David Millar (GBR) |
| 7 | 14 September | Torrelavega | 44.2 km (27 mi) | | Individual time trial | Santiago Botero (COL) |
| 8 | 15 September | Reinosa to Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda (Valdezcaray) | 195 km (121 mi) | | Mountain stage | José María Jiménez (ESP) |
| 9 | 16 September | Logroño to Zaragoza | 179.2 km (111 mi) | | Flat stage | Igor González de Galdeano (ESP) |
| | 17 September | Province of Barcelona | Province of Barcelona | | Rest day | Rest day |
| 10 | 18 September | Sabadell to La Molina | 168.4 km (105 mi) | | Mountain stage | Santiago Blanco (ESP) |
| 11 | 19 September | Alp to Estació de Pal (Andorra) | 154.2 km (96 mi) | | Mountain stage | José María Jiménez (ESP) |
| 12 | 20 September | Ordino to Estació d'Esquí d'Ordino-Alcalís (Andorra) | 17.1 km (11 mi) | | Mountain time trial | José María Jiménez (ESP) |
| 13 | 21 September | Andorra to Universal Studios Port Aventura | 206 km (128 mi) | | Hilly stage | Beat Zberg (SUI) |
| 14 | 22 September | Tarragona to Vinaròs | 170.5 km (106 mi) | | Flat stage | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) |
| 15 | 23 September | Valencia to Alto de Aitana | 207.2 km (129 mi) | | Mountain stage | Claus Michael Møller (DEN) |
| | 24 September | Province of Valencia | Province of Valencia | | Rest day | Rest day |
| 16 | 25 September | Alcoy to Murcia | 153.3 km (95 mi) | | Hilly stage | Tomáš Konečný (CZE) |
| 17 | 26 September | Murcia to Albacete | 159.5 km (99 mi) | | Flat stage | Robert Hunter (RSA) |
| 18 | 27 September | Albacete to Cuenca | 154.2 km (96 mi) | | Flat stage | Filippo Simeoni (ITA) |
| 19 | 28 September | Cuenca to Guadalajara | 168 km (104 mi) | | Hilly stage | Guido Trenti (USA) |
| 20 | 29 September | Guadalajara to Alto de Abantos | 176.3 km (110 mi) | | Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
| 21 | 30 September | Madrid | 38 km (24 mi) | | Individual time trial | Santiago Botero (COL) |
| | Total | Total | 3,012.2 km (1,872 mi) | 3,012.2 km (1,872 mi) | 3,012.2 km (1,872 mi) | 3,012.2 km (1,872 mi) | 3,012.2 km (1,872 mi) |

## Jersey progress

| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points Classification | Mountains Classification | Team Classification |
| 1 (ITT) | David Millar | David Millar | David Millar | David Millar | Kelme–Costa Blanca |
| 2 | Erik Zabel | David Millar | David Millar | David Millar | Kelme–Costa Blanca |
| 3 | Erik Zabel | David Millar | Erik Zabel | David Millar | Kelme–Costa Blanca |
| 4 | Erik Zabel | Santiago Botero | Erik Zabel | Karsten Kroon | Mapei–Quick-Step |
| 5 | Juan Miguel Mercado | Óscar Sevilla | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | iBanesto.com |
| 6 | David Millar | Óscar Sevilla | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | iBanesto.com |
| 7 (ITT) | Santiago Botero | Santiago Botero | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | Kelme–Costa Blanca |
| 8 | José María Jiménez | Joseba Beloki | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | Festina |
| 9 | Igor González de Galdeano | Joseba Beloki | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | Festina |
| 10 | Santiago Blanco | Joseba Beloki | Erik Zabel | Juan Miguel Mercado | iBanesto.com |
| 11 | José María Jiménez | Óscar Sevilla | Erik Zabel | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 12 | José María Jiménez | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 13 | Beat Zberg | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 14 | Juan Manuel Gárate | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 15 | Claus Michael Møller | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 16 | Tomáš Konečný | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 17 | Robert Hunter | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 18 | Filippo Simeoni | Óscar Sevilla | Erik Zabel | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 19 | Guido Trenti | Óscar Sevilla | Erik Zabel | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 20 | Gilberto Simoni | Óscar Sevilla | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| 21 (ITT) | Santiago Botero | Ángel Casero | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |
| Stage | Winner | Ángel Casero | José María Jiménez | José María Jiménez | iBanesto.com |

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the general classification | Denotes the leader of the mountains classification |
| Denotes the leader of the points classification | Denotes the winner of the sprints classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ángel Casero (ESP) | Festina | 70h 49' 05" |
| 2 | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 0' 47" |
| DSQ | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 2' 59" |
| 4 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | + 3' 56" |
| 5 | Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 5' 45" |
| 6 | David Plaza (ESP) | Festina | + 5' 53" |
| 7 | José Luis Rubiera (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | + 6' 57" |
| 8 | Claus Michael Møller (DEN) | Milaneza–MSS | + 7' 13" |
| 9 | Aitor Osa (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 8' 32" |
| 10 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Team Coast–Buffalo | + 10' 31" |
Final general classification (11–25) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 11 | Iban Mayo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 12' 58" |
| 12 | Roberto Laiseka (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 13' 32" |
| 13 | Íñigo Cuesta (ESP) | Cofidis | + 14' 00" |
| 14 | Luis Pérez Rodríguez (ESP) | Festina | + 20' 07" |
| 15 | Félix García Casas (ESP) | Festina | + 21' 01" |
| 16 | Tomáš Konečný (CZE) | Domo–Farm Frites–Latexco | + 23' 32" |
| 17 | José María Jiménez (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 24' 23" |
| 18 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 25' 01" |
| 19 | Manuel Beltrán (ESP) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 27' 14" |
| 20 | Franco Pellizotti (ITA) | Alessio | + 27' 58" |
| 21 | Santiago Blanco (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 28' 56" |
| 22 | Unai Osa (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 33' 30" |
| 23 | Roberto Conti (ITA) | Cantina Tollo–Acqua & Sapone | + 34' 03" |
| 24 | Richard Virenque (FRA) | Domo–Farm Frites–Latexco | + 38' 45" |
| 25 | Mikel Zarrabeitia (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | + 39' 06" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | José María Jiménez (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 130 |
| 2 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | 125 |
| DSQ | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | 115 |
| 4 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 102 |
| 5 | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 101 |
| DSQ | David Millar (GBR) | Cofidis. | 93 |
| 7 | Claus Michael Møller (DEN) | Milaneza–MSS | 89 |
| 8 | Ángel Casero (ESP) | Festina | 88 |
| 9 | Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 77 |
| 10 | Sven Teutenberg (GER) | Festina | 70 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | José María Jiménez (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 162 |
| 2 | Claus Michael Møller (DEN) | Milaneza–MSS | 110 |
| 3 | Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 88 |
| 4 | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 82 |
| 5 | José Luis Rubiera (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | 55 |
| 6 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 53 |
| 7 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | 50 |
| 8 | Íñigo Cuesta (ESP) | Cofidis | 49 |
| 9 | Santiago Blanco (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 48 |
| 10 | Félix Cárdenas (COL) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 42 |

### Sprints classification

Final sprints classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | César García Calvo (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | 40 |
| 2 | Robert Hunter (RSA) | Lampre–Daikin | 20 |
| 3 | Óscar Laguna (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | 19 |
| 4 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | 16 |
| 5 | Pedro Díaz Lobato (ESP) | Jazztel–Costa de Almería | 14 |
| 6 | José Manuel Vázquez (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | 12 |
| 7 | Germán Nieto (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | 12 |
| 8 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Lampre–Daikin | 12 |
| 9 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Rabobank | 11 |
| 10 | Guido Trenti (ITA) | Cantina Tollo–Acqua & Sapone | 11 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | iBanesto.com | 212h 05' 24" |
| 2 | U.S. Postal Service | + 23' 47" |
| 3 | Festina | + 26' 08" |
| 4 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 1h 01' 11" |
| 5 | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 1h 03' 31" |
| 6 | Milaneza–MSS | + 1h 36' 55" |
| 7 | ONCE–Eroski | + 1h 53' 28" |
| 8 | Cofidis | + 1h 54' 12" |
| 9 | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 2h 08' 36" |
| 10 | Domo–Farm Frites–Latexco | + 2h 24' 36" |