# 2006 Volta a Catalunya

The 2006 Volta a Catalunya was the 86th edition of the Volta a Catalunya cycling race took place from 15 May to 21 May 2006, in Catalonia. The race began in Salou with an individual time trial and ended in Barcelona. The race was won by David Cañada of Spain.

## Teams

Twenty-five teams of up to eight riders started the race:
* Discovery Channel
* Phonak
* Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears
* Rabobank
* T-Mobile Team
* Team CSC
* AG2R Prévoyance
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Davitamon–Lotto
* Saunier Duval–Prodir
* Bouygues Télécom
* Gerolsteiner
* Team Milram
* Liberty Seguros–Würth
* Crédit Agricole
* Cofidis
* Française des Jeux
* Lampre–Fondital
* Liquigas
* Quick-Step–Innergetic
* Comunidad Valenciana
* Relax–GAM
* Kaiku
* Andalucía–Paul Versan
* 3 Molinos Resort

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 15 May | Salou to Salou | 12.6 km (7.8 mi) | Individual time trial | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) |
| 2 | 16 May | Cambrils to Cambrils | 156.8 km (97.4 mi) | | Luis Pérez Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 3 | 17 May | Salou to Sant Carles de la Ràpita | 176.7 km (109.8 mi) | | Thor Hushovd (NOR) |
| 4 | 18 May | Perafort to Arcalis | 225 km (139.8 mi) | | Carlos Castaño (ESP) |
| 5 | 19 May | Llívia to Manlleu | 161.5 km (100.4 mi) | | Adolfo García (ESP) |
| 6 | 20 May | Manlleu to Lloret de Mar | 166.4 km (103.4 mi) | | Matej Mugerli (SLO) |
| 7 | 21 May | Lloret de Mar to Barcelona | 121.6 km (75.6 mi) | | Daniele Bennati (ITA) |

## Stages
### Stage 1

15 May 2006 – Salou, 12.6 km (7.8 mi) (ITT)
The stage was an individual time trial.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Team CSC | 14' 55" |
| 2 | Vladimir Karpets (RUS) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | + 3" |
| 3 | Janez Brajkovič (SLO) | Discovery Channel | + 3" |

### Stage 2

16 May 2006 – Cambrils, 146.9 km (91.3 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Luis Pérez Rodríguez (ESP) | Andalucía–Paul Versan | 3h 57' 14" |
| 2 | Isaac Gálvez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | + 12" |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | + 12" |

### Stage 3

17 May 2006 – Salou to Sant Carles de la Ràpita, 160.6 km (99.8 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 4h 16' 14" |
| 2 | René Haselbacher (AUT) | Gerolsteiner | s.t. |
| 3 | Robert Hunter (RSA) | Phonak | s.t. |

### Stage 4

18 May 2006 – Perafort to Vallnord, 225 km (140 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Carlos Castaño (ESP) | Kaiku | 6h 03' 41" |
| 2 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | AG2R Prévoyance | + 52" |
| 3 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Phonak | + 1' 53" |

### Stage 5

19 May 2006 – Llívia to Manlleu, 161.5 km (100.4 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Adolfo García (ESP) | Andalucía–Paul Versan | 3h 52' 44" |
| 2 | David Arroyo (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | s.t. |
| 3 | Eladio Jiménez (ESP) | Comunidad Valenciana | s.t. |

### Stage 6

20 May 2006 – Manlleu to Lloret de Mar, 166.4 km (103.4 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Matej Mugerli (SLO) | Liquigas | 4h 02' 01" |
| 2 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | s.t. |
| 3 | Manuel Quinziato (ITA) | Liquigas | s.t. |

### Stage 7

21 May 2006: Lloret de Mar to Barcelona, 121.6 km (75.6 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | 2h 36' 37" |
| 2 | Aaron Kemps (AUS) | Liberty Seguros–Würth | s.t. |
| 3 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Milram | s.t. |

## Classification tables
### General classification

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | David Cañada (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 25h 06' 26" |
| 2 | Santiago Botero (COL) | Phonak | + 2" |
| 3 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | AG2R Prévoyance | + 8" |
| 4 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Phonak | + 35" |
| 5 | Janez Brajkovič (SLO) | Discovery Channel | + 48" |
| 6 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 57" |
| 7 | Francisco Mancebo (ESP) | AG2R Prévoyance | + 1' 11" |
| 8 | Vladimir Karpets (RUS) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | + 1' 24" |
| 9 | Denis Menchov (RUS) | Rabobank | + 1' 27" |
| 10 | David Arroyo (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | + 1' 35" |

### Mountains classification

| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | AG2R Prévoyance | 84 |
| 2 | José Alberto Benítez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 46 |
| 3 | Francisco José Lara (ESP) | Andalucía–Paul Versan | 31 |

### Points classification

| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 69 |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | 49 |
| 3 | Aaron Kemps (AUS) | Liberty Seguros–Würth | 41 |

### Best team

| Rank | Team | Country | Time |
| 1 | Phonak | Switzerland | 75h 22' 34" |
| 2 | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | Spain | + 21" |
| 3 | AG2R Prévoyance | France | + 1' 12" |