List of teams and cyclists in the 1981 Tour de France

For the 1981 Tour de France, in late 1980, there were plans to make the tour "open", which meant that amateur teams would also be allowed to join. This would make it possible for teams from Eastern Europe to join. The plan did not materialize, so only professional teams were invited. In January 1981, the organisation decided that there would be 15 teams with 10 cyclists, or 16 teams with 9 cyclists each. At that point, 16 teams had already submitted a request to join, and the organisation was in discussion with four additional Italian teams, and the American national team.

In the end, the American team did not apply, and the Italian teams decided to focus on the 1981 Giro d'Italia. The organisation selected 15 teams, who each selected 10 cyclists, for a total of 150 participants. The teams were: TI–Raleigh–Creda Peugeot–Esso–Michelin Miko–Mercier–Vivagel Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo La Redoute–Motobécane Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo Boston–Mavic Teka DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle Kelme Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago Renault–Elf–Gitane Vermeer–Thijs–Gios Bernard Hinault, the winner of the 1978 and 1979 Tour de France and reigning world champion, was the main favourite. His knee problems, that caused him to leave the 1980 Tour de France, were solved, and he was in form: Hinault had won important races in the spring, and he had skipped the 1981 Giro d'Italia to focus on the Tour. His main rivals were 1980 Tour de France winner Joop Zoetemelk, 1976 Tour de France winner Lucien Van Impe and Joaquim Agostinho, although they had never been able to beat Hinault when he was in form.

Freddy Maertens, the winner of the points classification in the Tour de France in 1976 and 1978, had won only three minor races in 1979 and 1980, but in 1981 he was selected again for the Tour.

Start list

By team

+TI–Raleigh–Creda No. Rider Pos. 1 4 2 DNF 3 95 4 55 5 54 6 59 7 DNF 8 115 9 12 10 DNF +Peugeot–Esso–Michelin No. Rider Pos. 11 6 12 10 13 63 14 72 15 28 16 20 17 18 18 61 19 46 20 44+Miko–Mercier–Vivagel No. Rider Pos. 21 17 22 DNF 23 51 24 47 25 86 26 58 27 DNF 28 77 29 73 30 36+Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor No. Rider Pos. 31 7 32 113 33 65 34 9 35 48 36 8 37 DNF 38 DNF 39 96 40 DNF +Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo No. Rider Pos. 41 DNF 42 33 43 DNF 44 98 45 90 46 DNF 47 23 48 78 49 109 50 13+La Redoute–Motobécane No. Rider Pos. 51 3 52 31 53 92 54 15 55 88 56 DNF 57 45 58 82 59 99 60 26+Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata No. Rider Pos. 61 DNF 62 40 63 74 64 39 65 84 66 75 67 DNF 68 107 69 34 70 5+Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo No. Rider Pos. 71 37 72 24 73 70 74 53 75 71 76 DNF 77 29 78 112 79 49 80 DNF +Boston–Mavic No. Rider Pos. 81 2 82 87 83 114 84 DNF 85 116 86 41 87 DNF 88 120 89 111 90 DNF +Teka No. Rider Pos. 91 35 92 69 93 121 94 DNF 95 21 96 101 97 64 98 91 99 DNF 100 118+DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle No. Rider Pos. 101 30 102 DNF 103 106 104 57 105 110 106 83 107 52 108 16 109 80 110 93+Kelme No. Rider Pos. 111 50 112 103 113 38 114 42 115 97 116 DNF 117 104 118 DNF 119 105 120 100+Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago No. Rider Pos. 121 25 122 119 123 62 124 66 125 94 126 DNF 127 DNF 128 14 129 102 130 117+Renault–Elf–Gitane No. Rider Pos. 131 1 132 60 133 68 134 27 135 85 136 32 137 22 138 56 139 19 140 43+Vermeer–Thijs–Gios No. Rider Pos. 141 11 142 79 143 DNF 144 89 145 67 146 DNF 147 76 148 DNF 149 81 150 108

By rider + Legend No. Starting number worn by the rider during the Tour Pos. Position in the general classification DNF Denotes a rider who did not finish

No. Name Nationality Team Pos. Time 1 Joop Zoetemelk TI–Raleigh–Creda 4 + 18' 21" 2 Urs Freuler TI–Raleigh–Creda DNF — 3 Frank Hoste TI–Raleigh–Creda 95 + 2h 23' 56" 4 Gerrie Knetemann TI–Raleigh–Creda 55 + 1h 39' 54" 5 Henk Lubberding TI–Raleigh–Creda 54 + 1h 37' 43" 6 Ludo Peeters TI–Raleigh–Creda 59 + 1h 43' 05" 7 Cees Priem TI–Raleigh–Creda DNF — 8 Aad van den Hoek TI–Raleigh–Creda 115 + 3h 11' 29" 9 Johan van der Velde TI–Raleigh–Creda 12 + 29' 46" 10 Ad Wijnands TI–Raleigh–Creda DNF — 11 Jean-René Bernaudeau Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 6 + 23' 02" 12 Phil Anderson Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 10 + 27' 00" 13 Jacques Bossis Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 63 + 1h 44' 39" 14 Bernard Bourreau Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 72 + 1h 56' 32" 15 Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 28 + 56' 37" 16 Graham Jones Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 20 + 41' 06" 17 Michel Laurent Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 18 + 34' 41" 18 Roger Legeay Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 61 + 1h 43' 56" 19 Hubert Linard Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 46 + 1h 26' 12" 20 Patrick Perret Peugeot–Esso–Michelin 44 + 1h 25' 55" 21 Raymond Martin Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 17 + 33' 41" 22 Kim Andersen Miko–Mercier–Vivagel DNF — 23 Régis Clère Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 51 + 1h 31' 01" 24 Patrick Friou Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 47 + 1h 27' 20" 25 Joël Gallopin Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 86 + 2h 10' 22" 26 Jean-Louis Gauthier Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 58 + 1h 42' 12" 27 Didier Lebaud Miko–Mercier–Vivagel DNF — 28 Christian Levavasseur Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 77 + 2h 02' 36" 29 Hubert Mathis Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 73 + 1h 58' 29" 30 Christian Seznec Miko–Mercier–Vivagel 36 + 1h 12' 43" 31 Johan De Muynck Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 7 + 24' 25" 32 Johnny Broers Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 113 + 3h 01' 58" 33 Rudy Colman Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 65 + 1h 46' 53" 34 Claude Criquielion Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 9 + 26' 18" 35 Sean Kelly Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 48 + 1h 28' 24" 36 Sven-Åke Nilsson Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 8 + 24' 37" 37 Eddy Planckaert Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor DNF — 38 Walter Planckaert Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor DNF — 39 Eugène Urbany Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor 96 + 2h 25' 01" 40 Guido Van Calster Wickes–Splendor–Europ Decor DNF — 41 Joaquim Agostinho Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo DNF — 42 Serge Beucherie Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 33 + 1h 01' 40" 43 Patrick Clerc Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo DNF — 44 Jean-Paul Hosotte Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 98 + 2h 28' 09" 45 Patrick Hosotte Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 90 + 2h 12' 49" 46 Fernando Mendes Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo DNF — 47 Jacques Michaud Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 23 + 50' 23" 48 Patrick Moerlen Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 78 + 2h 03' 20" 49 Albert Zweifel Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 109 + 2h 44' 24" 50 Marcel Tinazzi Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo 13 + 30' 03" 51 Robert Alban La Redoute–Motobécane 3 + 17' 04" 52 Pierre Bazzo La Redoute–Motobécane 31 + 58' 00" 53 Luc Durant La Redoute–Motobécane 92 + 2h 13' 51" 54 Mariano Martínez La Redoute–Motobécane 15 + 32' 16" 55 Jean-François Pescheux La Redoute–Motobécane 88 + 2h 12' 04" 56 Paul Sherwen La Redoute–Motobécane DNF — 57 Bernard Vallet La Redoute–Motobécane 45 + 1h 26' 10" 58 Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke La Redoute–Motobécane 82 + 2h 07' 14" 59 Ferdi Van Den Haute La Redoute–Motobécane 99 + 2h 28' 11" 60 Didier Vanoverschelde La Redoute–Motobécane 26 + 53' 13" 61 Daniel Willems Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata DNF — 62 Ronny Claes Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 40 + 1h 17' 08" 63 Ludo Delcroix Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 74 + 1h 59' 59" 64 Theo de Rooij Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 39 + 1h 16' 02" 65 Jos Jacobs Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 84 + 2h 08' 21" 66 Rudy Pevenage Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 75 + 2h 00' 34" 67 Eric Van De Wiele Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata DNF — 68 Dirk Wayenberg Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 107 + 2h 40' 27" 69 Jostein Wilmann Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 34 + 1h 02' 46" 70 Peter Winnen Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata 5 + 20' 26" 71 Bernard Thévenet Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 37 + 1h 12' 48" 72 Dominique Arnaud Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 24 + 52' 15" 73 Jean Chassang Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 70 + 1h 50' 34" 74 Alain De Carvalho Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 53 + 1h 35' 25" 75 Yves Hézard Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 71 + 1h 52' 15" 76 Jacques Osmont Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo DNF — 77 Régis Ovion Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 29 + 56' 43" 78 Gerhard Schönbacher Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 112 + 2h 51' 30" 79 Klaus-Peter Thaler Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo 49 + 1h 28' 51" 80 Claude Vincendeau Puch–Wolber–Campagnolo DNF — 81 Lucien Van Impe Boston–Mavic 2 + 14' 34" 82 Roger De Cnijf Boston–Mavic 87 + 2h 10' 47" 83 Luc De Grauwe Boston–Mavic 114 + 3h 05' 51" 84 Marc Goossens Boston–Mavic DNF — 85 Jan Jonkers Boston–Mavic 116 + 3h 15' 21" 86 Alain Meslet Boston–Mavic 41 + 1h 18' 38" 87 Jan Nevens Boston–Mavic DNF — 88 Philippe Tesnière Boston–Mavic 120 + 4h 14' 59" 89 Willy Teirlinck Boston–Mavic 111 + 2h 46' 44" 90 Benjamin Vermeulen Boston–Mavic DNF — 91 Marino Lejarreta Teka 35 + 1h 10' 37" 92 Bernardo Alfonsel Teka 69 + 1h 49' 11" 93 Faustino Cueli Teka 121 + 4h 29' 54" 94 Noël Dejonckheere Teka DNF — 95 Alberto Fernández Teka 21 + 42' 27" 96 Eulalio García Pereda Teka 101 + 2h 30' 43" 97 Ismael Lejarreta Teka 64 + 1h 44' 49" 98 Paulino Martínez Teka 91 + 2h 13' 12" 99 José Luis Mayoz Teka DNF — 100 Jorge Ruiz Cabestany Teka 118 + 3h 16' 13" 101 Hennie Kuiper DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 30 + 57' 21" 102 Luc Colijn DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle DNF — 103 Marc Dierickx DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 106 + 2h 38' 10" 104 Hendrik Devos DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 57 + 1h 42' 05" 105 Marcel Laurens DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 110 + 2h 45' 21" 106 René Martens DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 83 + 2h 07' 41" 107 Guy Nulens DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 52 + 1h 33' 39" 108 Eddy Schepers DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 16 + 33' 27" 109 Hennie Stamsnijder DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 80 + 2h 05' 31" 110 William Tackaert DAF Trucks–Côte d'Or–Gazelle 93 + 2h 21' 50" 111 Juan Fernández Martín Kelme 50 + 1h 30' 46" 112 Francisco Albelda Kelme 103 + 2h 33' 54" 113 Vicente Belda Kelme 38 + 1h 14' 23" 114 Jorge Fortiá Kelme 42 + 1h 23' 28" 115 Jesús Guzmán Kelme 97 + 2h 25' 38" 116 Rafael Ladrón de Guevara Kelme DNF — 117 Imanol Murga Kelme 104 + 2h 35' 45" 118 Avelino Perea Kelme DNF — 119 Jesús Suárez Cueva Kelme 105 + 2h 37' 36" 120 Jaime Vilamajó Kelme 100 + 2h 29' 41" 121 Gery Verlinden Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 25 + 52' 48" 122 Alain De Roo Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 119 + 3h 19' 07" 123 Ronald De Witte Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 62 + 1h 44' 07" 124 Freddy Maertens Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 66 + 1h 47' 34" 125 Frits Pirard Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 94 + 2h 23' 40" 126 Eric Vandeperre Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago DNF — 127 Jan van Houwelingen Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago DNF — 128 Paul Wellens Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 14 + 32' 09" 129 Leo Wellens Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 102 + 2h 30' 46" 130 Johan Wellens Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago 117 + 3h 16' 02" 131 Bernard Hinault Renault–Elf–Gitane 1 132 Hubert Arbès Renault–Elf–Gitane 60 + 1h 43' 45" 133 Bernard Becaas Renault–Elf–Gitane 68 + 1h 48' 05" 134 Charly Bérard Renault–Elf–Gitane 27 + 56' 06" 135 Yvon Bertin Renault–Elf–Gitane 85 + 2h 10' 08" 136 Jonathan Boyer Renault–Elf–Gitane 32 + 59' 21" 137 Lucien Didier Renault–Elf–Gitane 22 + 49' 26" 138 Maurice Le Guilloux Renault–Elf–Gitane 56 + 1h 41' 25" 139 Jean-François Rodriguez Renault–Elf–Gitane 19 + 38' 32" 140 Alain Vigneron Renault–Elf–Gitane 43 + 1h 24' 52" 141 Fons De Wolf Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 11 + 28' 53" 142 Herman Beysens Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 79 + 2h 03' 25" 143 Jan Bogaert Vermeer–Thijs–Gios DNF — 144 Franky De Gendt Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 89 + 2h 12' 42" 145 Jos Deschoenmaecker Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 67 + 1h 47' 54" 146 Roland Liboton Vermeer–Thijs–Gios DNF — 147 Louis Luyten Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 76 + 2h 02' 01" 148 Michel Pollentier Vermeer–Thijs–Gios DNF — 149 Adri van Houwelingen Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 81 + 2h 06' 20" 150 Eddy Verstraeten Vermeer–Thijs–Gios 108 + 2h 44' 22"

References