The 81st season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on January 6, 2001 and ended on June 3, 2001. Seventeen teams participated. Grêmio beat Juventude in the finals and won their 33rd title. Avenida and Novo Hamburgo were relegated.
Participating teams
Club Home location Previous season 15 de Novembro Campo Bom Avenida Santa Cruz do Sul Caxias Caxias do Sul Esportivo Bento Gonçalves Grêmio Porto Alegre Guarani Venâncio Aires Internacional Porto Alegre Juventude Caxias do Sul Novo Hamburgo Novo Hamburgo Passo Fundo Passo Fundo Pelotas Pelotas São José Porto Alegre São Luiz Ijuí São Paulo Rio Grande Santa Cruz Santa Cruz do Sul Santo Ângelo Santo Ângelo Veranópolis Veranópolis
System The championship would have three stages:
First phase: The thirteen teams that didn't participate in the Série A or the Série B played against each other in a single round-robin system. After 13 rounds, the four best teams qualified to the Second phase. Second phase: The four remaining teams joined the teams that participated in the Série A or Série B (Internacional, Grêmio, Caxias and Juventude), and played against each other twice, with the winners of each half qualifying to the Finals. The four best teams qualified to the following year's Copa Sul-Minas. Finals: The stage winners of the Second phase played in two matches to define the Champions.
Championship First phase
First round
Second round
Final standings
Finals
References