title: 1981 Tour of Flanders
text: # 1981 Tour of Flanders
  
  The 65th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 5 April 1981. Dutch rider Hennie Kuiper claimed a solo victory ahead of his fellow Dutchmen Frits Pirard and Jan Raas. 45 of 184 riders finished.
  
  ## Route
  
  The race started in Sint Niklaas and finished in Meerbeke (Ninove) – covering 267 km. There were 11 categorized climbs:
  
  | Oude Kwaremont Koppenberg Taaienberg Eikenberg Volkegemberg Varent | Steenberg Pijpketel Muur van Geraardsbergen Bosberg Nellekensberg |
  | - | - |
  
  ## Results
  
  Result :
  
  | Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Hennie Kuiper (NED) | Daf Trucks–Cote d'Or–Gazelle | 6h 32' 37" |
  | 2 | Frits Pirard (NED) | Boule d'Or–Sunair–Colnago | + 1' 03" |
  | 3 | Jan Raas (NED) | TI–Raleigh–Creda | + 1' 06" |
  | 4 | Jacques Bossis (FRA) | Peugeot–Esso–Michelin | s.t. |
  | 5 | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke (BEL) | La Redoute–Motobecane | s.t. |
  | 6 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | Daf Trucks–Cote d'Or–Gazelle | + 1' 13" |
  | 7 | Fons De Wolf (BEL) | Vermeer Thijs–Mimo Salons–Gios | s.t. |
  | 8 | Sean Kelly (IRL) | Splendor–Wickes | s.t. |
  | 9 | Stefan Mutter (SUI) | Cilo–Aufina | s.t. |
  | 10 | Daniel Willems (BEL) | Capri Sonne–Koga Miyata | s.t. |
  