# 1981 Vuelta a España, Prologue to Stage 9

The 1981 Vuelta a España was the 36th edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Vuelta began in Santander, with a prologue individual time trial on 21 April, and Stage 9 occurred on 30 April with a stage to Murcia. The race finished in Madrid on 10 May.

## Prologue

21 April 1981 — Santander to Santander, 6.3 km (3.9 mi) (ITT)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 8' 26" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 15" |
| 4 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 5 | Wies van Dongen (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 21" |
| 6 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 7 | Jos Schipper (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 23" |
| 8 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 24" |
| 9 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 10 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |

## Stage 1

22 April 1981 — Santander to Avilés, 221 km (137 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Guido Bontempi (ITA) | Inoxpran | 6h 20' 15" |
| 2 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 3 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 4 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 6 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | Juan José Quintanilla [es] (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 8 | Johan van der Meer [nl] (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 9 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 10 | Ad van Peer (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 6h 28' 41" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 15" |
| 4 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 5 | Wies van Dongen (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 21" |
| 6 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 7 | Jos Schipper (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 23" |
| 8 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 9 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 24" |
| 10 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |

## Stage 2

23 April 1981 — Avilés to León, 159 km (99 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alfredo Chinetti (ITA) | Inoxpran | 4h 36' 01" |
| 2 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 3 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 4 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 5 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 6 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 8 | Ángel Camarillo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 9 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 10 | Per Bausager (DEN) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 11h 04' 42" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 4 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 24" |
| 6 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 7 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |
| 8 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 26" |
| 9 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 27" |
| 10 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 30" |

## Stage 3

24 April 1981 — León to Salamanca, 195 km (121 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Guido Bontempi (ITA) | Inoxpran | 5h 25' 58" |
| 2 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 3 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 4 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 5 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 6 | Heddie Nieuwdorp (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | Frédéric Vichot (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 8 | Alfredo Chinetti (ITA) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 9 | Wies van Dongen (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 10 | Erich Jagsch (AUT) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 16h 30' 40" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 4 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 5 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 24" |
| 6 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 7 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |
| 8 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 26" |
| 9 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 28" |
| 10 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 30" |

## Stage 4

25 April 1981 — Salamanca to Cáceres, 206 km (128 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Celestino Prieto (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | 5h 44' 49" |
| 2 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 3 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 4 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 6 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 8 | Gérald Oberson (SUI) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 9 | Félix Pérez Moreno (ESP) | Manzaneque | s.t. |
| 10 | Johan van der Meer [nl] (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 22h 15' 34" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 4 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 24" |
| 6 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 7 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |
| 8 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 9 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 26" |
| 10 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 27" |

## Stage 5

26 April 1981 — Cáceres to Mérida, 152 km (94 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Heddie Nieuwdorp (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | 3h 23' 53" |
| 2 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 2' 40" |
| 3 | Hans Vonk (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 4 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 5 | Wies van Dongen (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 6 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 7 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 8 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 9 | Ángel Camarillo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 10 | Félix Pérez Moreno (ESP) | Manzaneque | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 25h 42' 02" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 4 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 24" |
| 6 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |
| 7 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 8 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 26" |
| 9 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 28" |
| 10 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 32" |

## Stage 6

27 April 1981 — Mérida to Seville, 199 km (124 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | 5h 19' 23" |
| 2 | Alfredo Chinetti (ITA) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 3 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 4 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 5 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 6 | Frédéric Vichot (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 7 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 8 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 9 | Heddie Nieuwdorp (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 10 | Johan van der Meer [nl] (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |

## Stage 7

28 April 1981 — Écija to Jaén, 181 km (112 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan Fernández Martín (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | 5h 17' 56" |
| 2 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 3 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 4 | Gérald Oberson (SUI) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 5 | Frédéric Vichot (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 6 | Didier Lebaud (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 7 | Félix Pérez Moreno (ESP) | Manzaneque | s.t. |
| 8 | Ángel Camarillo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 9 | Alfredo Chinetti (ITA) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 10 | Heddie Nieuwdorp (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | 36h 19' 21" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |
| 4 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 22" |
| 5 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 24" |
| 6 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 25" |
| 7 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 8 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 26" |
| 9 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 28" |
| 10 | Enrique Martínez Heredia (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 32" |

## Stage 8a

29 April 1981 — Jaén to Granada, 100 km (62 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | José María Yurrebaso (ESP) | Manzaneque | 2h 41' 09" |
| 2 | Jos Lammertink (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | + 1' 49" |
| 3 | Hans Vonk (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 4 | Miguel María Lasa (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | s.t. |
| 5 | Frédéric Vichot (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 6 | Erich Jagsch (AUT) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | Wies van Dongen (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 8 | Jesús Guzmán Delgado (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 9 | Johan van der Meer [nl] (NED) | HB Alarmsystemen [ca] | s.t. |
| 10 | Jesús Suárez Cueva (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 2" |
| 3 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | + 17" |

## Stage 8b

29 April 1981 — Granada to Sierra Nevada, 30.5 km (19.0 mi) (ITT)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | 1h 11' 02" |
| 2 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 43" |
| 3 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 53" |
| 4 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 2' 20" |
| 5 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 2' 34" |
| 6 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 3' 03" |
| 7 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 3' 11" |
| 8 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 3' 37" |
| 9 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | + 3' 55" |
| 10 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 4' 09" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | 40h 13' 38" |
| 2 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 48" |
| 3 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 51" |
| 4 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 2' 46" |
| 5 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 3' 02" |
| 6 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 3' 08" |
| 7 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | + 3' 38" |
| 8 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 3' 48" |
| 9 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 4' 15" |
| 10 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 4' 17" |

## Stage 9

30 April 1981 — Baza to Murcia, 204 km (127 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Manuel Murga Saez De Ormijana (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | 5h 37' 36" |
| 2 | Frédéric Vichot (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | + 43" |
| 3 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 52" |
| 4 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | s.t. |
| 5 | Per Bausager (DEN) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 6 | Francisco Javier Cedena (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | s.t. |
| 7 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | s.t. |
| 8 | Alfredo Chinetti (ITA) | Inoxpran | s.t. |
| 9 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| 10 | Gines García Pallares (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giovanni Battaglin (ITA) | Inoxpran | 45h 52' 06" |
| 2 | Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 51" |
| 3 | Jørgen Marcussen (DEN) | Inoxpran | + 1' 31" |
| 4 | Vicente Belda (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 2' 46" |
| 5 | Antonio Coll (ESP) | Colchón CR [ca] | + 3' 02" |
| 6 | Ángel Arroyo (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 3' 08" |
| 7 | Régis Clère (FRA) | Miko–Mercier–Vivagel | + 3' 38" |
| 8 | José Luis Laguía (ESP) | Reynolds | + 4' 15" |
| 9 | Rafael Ladrón (ESP) | Kelme–Gios | + 4' 41" |
| 10 | José Luis López Cerrón [ca] (ESP) | Zor–Helios–Novostil | + 5' 10" |