1981 Vuelta a España#Points classification

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 1981 Vuelta a España

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| date = 21 April – 10 May

| stages = 19

| distance = 3446

| unit = km

| time = 98h 04' 49"

| speed = 35.134

| first = Giovanni Battaglin

| first_nat = ITA

| first_team = {{UCI team code|CAR|1981}}

| first_color = yellow

| second = Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez

| second_nat = ESP

| second_team = Zor–Helios

| third = Vicente Belda

| third_nat = ESP

| third_team = {{UCI team code|KEL|1981}}

| points = Francisco Javier Cedena

| points_nat = ESP

| points_team = Colchon C.R.

| points_color = light blue

| mountains = José Luis Laguía

| mountains_nat = ESP

| mountains_team = {{UCI team code|MOV|1981}}

| mountains_color = black

| sprints = Hugues Grondin

| sprints_nat = FRA

| sprints_team = Manzaneque

| sprints_color = red

| team = Zor

| previous = 1980

| next = 1982

}}

The 36th Edition Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the three grand tours, was held from 21 April to 10 May 1981. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of {{convert|3446|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and was won by Giovanni Battaglin of the {{UCI team code|CAR|1981}} cycling team.

Regis Clere won the prologue of the race and kept the leader's jersey until the mountain time trial where on the very long climb to Sierra Nevada, Giovanni Battaglin won the stage and took over the leader's jersey. The only threat to Battaglin's lead was Pedro Muñoz.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/81infor.asp?a=1981&s=infor&t=infor&e=1|title=1981 General Information|publisher=La Vuelta.com|access-date=2008-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611183752/http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/81infor.asp?a=1981&s=infor&t=infor&e=1|archive-date=2011-06-11|url-status=dead}}

The entire Teka team withdrew from the race withdrawing potential favourites Marino Lejarreta and Alberto Fernández.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/82infor.asp?a=1982&s=infor&t=infor&e=1 |title=1982 General Information |publisher=La Vuelta.com |access-date=2008-01-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921104459/http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/historia/82infor.asp?a=1982&s=infor&t=infor&e=1 |archive-date=2008-09-21 }} Battaglin and his Inoxpran team withstood the challenge from the Spanish and brought Battaglin to his first grand tour victory.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellatisport.com/shop/brand/1/Battaglin.html|title=Battaglin flies among the nest of eagles|publisher=Bellati sport.com|access-date=2008-01-19| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080112193639/http://www.bellatisport.com/shop/brand/1/Battaglin.html| archive-date= 12 January 2008 | url-status= live}} Three days later after Battaglin's triumph in Spain, he began the 1981 Giro d'Italia which he would win becoming the second rider after Eddy Merckx to win the Vuelta-Giro double.