| 1981 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré | |
| Date: | 26 May – 2 June 1981 |
| Stages: | 7 + Prologue |
| Distance: | 1287.5[1] |
| Unit: | km |
| Time: | 36h 22' 38" |
| First: | Bernard Hinault |
| First Nat: | FRA |
| First Color: | yellow-bluebar |
| Second: | Joaquim Agostinho |
| Second Nat: | POR |
| Third: | Greg LeMond |
| Third Nat: | USA |
| Points: | Bernard Hinault |
| Points Nat: | FRA |
| Points Color: | green |
| Mountains: | Bernard Hinault |
| Mountains Nat: | FRA |
| Mountains Color: | white dots on red |
| Previous: | 1980 |
| Next: | 1982 |
The 1981 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was the 33rd edition of the cycle race and was held from 26 May to 2 June 1981. The race started in Grenoble and finished in Avignon. The race was won by Bernard Hinault of the Renault team.[2]
Ten teams, containing a total of 99 riders, participated in the race:
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 26 May | Grenoble | 3km (02miles) | Individual time trial | |||
| 1 | 27 May | Grenoble to Saint-Étienne | 207km (129miles) | ||||
| 2 | 28 May | Saint-Étienne to Montceau-les-Mines | 215.5km (133.9miles) | ||||
| 3a | 29 May | Montceau-les-Mines to Mâcon | 102km (63miles) | ||||
| 3b | 29 May | Mâcon to Bourg-en-Bresse | 40km (30miles) | Individual time trial | |||
| 4 | 30 May | Lyon to Lyon | 207.5km (128.9miles) | ||||
| 5 | 31 May | Lyon to Chambéry | 180km (110miles) | ||||
| 6 | 1 June | Chambéry to Chambéry | 134.5km (83.6miles) | ||||
| 7 | 2 June | Valence to Avignon | 198km (123miles) | ||||
Final general classification[3]
|