# 2003 Volta a Catalunya

The 2003 Volta a Catalunya was the 83rd edition of the Volta a Catalunya cycle race and was held from 16 June to 22 June 2003. The race started in Salou and finished in Barcelona. The race was won by José Antonio Pecharromán of the Paternina–Costa de Almería team.

## Teams

Fifteen teams of up to eight riders started the race:
* U.S. Postal Service
* ONCE–Eroski
* Fassa Bortolo
* Kelme–Costa Blanca
* Team Telekom
* Vini Caldirola–So.di
* iBanesto.com
* Rabobank
* Cofidis
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Gerolsteiner
* Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada
* Paternina–Costa de Almería
* Labarca 2–Cafés Baqué
* Lokomotiv [ca]

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 16 June | Salou to Vila-seca | 26.7 km (16.6 mi) | Team time trial | ONCE–Eroski |
| 2 | 17 June | Móra d'Ebre to El Morell | 183.6 km (114.1 mi) | | Bram de Groot (NED) |
| 3 | 18 June | La Pobla de Mafumet to Andorra (Els Cortals d'Encamp) | 216.6 km (134.6 mi) | | Aitor Kintana (ESP) |
| 4 | 19 June | Andorra la Vella to Llívia | 157.4 km (97.8 mi) | | Jesús Manzano (ESP) |
| 5 | 20 June | Llívia to Manresa | 166.3 km (103.3 mi) | | Óscar Freire (ESP) |
| 6 | 21 June | Molins de Rei to Vallvidrera | 13.1 km (8.1 mi) | Individual time trial | José Antonio Pecharromán (ESP) |
| 7 | 22 June | Sant Joan Despí to Barcelona (La Pedrera) | 128 km (79.5 mi) | | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) |

## Stages
### Stage 1

16 June 2003 - Salou to Vila-seca, 26.7 km (16.6 mi) (TTT)
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | ONCE–Eroski | 25' 32" |
| 2 | U.S. Postal Service | + 3" |
| 3 | Rabobank | + 13" |

### Stage 2

17 June 2003 - Móra d'Ebre to El Morell, 183.6 km (114.1 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Bram de Groot (NED) | Rabobank | 4h 21' 25" |
| 2 | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | + 1" |
| 3 | George Hincapie (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |

### Stage 3

18 June 2003 - La Pobla de Mafumet to Andorra (Els Cortals d'Encamp), 216.6 km (134.6 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Aitor Kintana (ESP) | Labarca 2–Cafés Baqué | 5h 50' 48" |
| 2 | Michael Rasmussen (DEN) | Rabobank | + 2' 00" |
| 3 | José Antonio Pecharromán (ESP) | Paternina–Costa de Almería | + 2' 09" |

### Stage 4

19 June 2003 - Andorra la Vella to Llívia, 157.4 km (97.8 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jesús Manzano (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 4h 17' 55" |
| 2 | René Haselbacher (AUT) | Gerolsteiner | + 12" |
| 3 | Matthias Kessler (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |

### Stage 5

20 June 2003 - Llívia to Manresa, 166.3 km (103.3 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 3h 46' 37" |
| 2 | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | s.t. |
| 3 | René Haselbacher (AUT) | Gerolsteiner | s.t. |

### Stage 6

21 June 2003 - Molins de Rei to Vallvidrera, 13.1 km (8.1 mi) (ITT)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | José Antonio Pecharromán (ESP) | Paternina–Costa de Almería | 21' 49" |
| 2 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | + 52" |
| 3 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Team Telekom | + 58" |

### Stage 7

22 June 2003 - Sant Joan Despí to Barcelona (La Pedrera), 128 km (80 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | 2h 08' 00" |
| 2 | George Hincapie (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| 3 | Matthias Kessler (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |

## General classification

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | José Antonio Pecharromán (ESP) | Paternina–Costa de Almería | 22h 15' 13" |
| 2 | Roberto Heras (ESP) | U.S. Postal Service | + 43" |
| 3 | Koldo Gil (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | + 3' 46" |
| 4 | Rafael Casero (ESP) | Paternina–Costa de Almería | + 4' 02" |
| 5 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | + 4' 29" |
| 6 | Benjamín Noval (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | + 4' 36" |
| 7 | Guido Trentin (ITA) | Cofidis | + 4' 39" |
| 8 | Santiago Blanco (ESP) | Colchon Relax–Fuenlabrada | + 5' 28" |
| 9 | Daniel Atienza (ESP) | Cofidis | + 5' 45" |
| 10 | Evgeni Petrov (RUS) | iBanesto.com | + 5' 55" |