2003 Vuelta a España
The 58th Vuelta a España was held from 6 September to 28 September 2003. After 21 stages with a total length of 2957 kilometers, Roberto Heras won by 28 seconds ahead of Isidro Nozal.
The tour was marked primarily by time trials. So there was a team time trial, two individual time trials and a mountain time trial.
Course
We kicked off the team time trial over 28 kilometers that the team ONCE - Eroski could decide for themselves. On the 4th stage was at a very undulating stage. This opportunity was taken by some drivers to drive from six men to the field of them in a group. Unai Etxebarria later ripped out of the small group and secured the stage victory. Much more important for the rest of the Tour of Spain, however, should be that Isidro Nozal was represented in the group and was allowed to pull the golden jersey of the overall leader with 50 seconds ahead. The individual time trial of stage 6 Nozal clearly dominated and drove in the overall standings on his second-placed teammate Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano a gap of two and a half minutes out. With the 7th stage, the first test was very difficult in the mountains and Nozal 's melted lead, but on the next stage, which also led through the mountains he could compete with the best again. On the 9th stage he could on the final climb even fierce competitors, such as Roberto Heras remove some seconds. The stage was won by a young Spaniard named Alejandro Valverde.
After the heavy mountain stages, the sprinters were come again to speak. Erik Zabel won by the following three flat stages two. This was followed by the second individual time trial and it was Isidro Nozal again, who could decide it for yourself. Gonzalez de Galdeano now had over three minutes behind, Roberto Heras even more than five minutes.
On the 15th stage then came the first major attack by Roberto Heras. On the last climb just Valverde and Félix Cárdenas could follow. Valverde decided the stage for himself and Heras was able to make over one minute Nozal. The next stage could not hold against Nozal again. Heras and the other climbers brought on and on. Before the decisive mountain time trial of the 20th stage Nozal had 1:55 minutes ahead of Roberto Heras, but he lost over two minutes and Heras was therefore safe thanks to a little time cushion the overall victory.
The greatest discovery of the 58th Tour of Spain was without a doubt the 23 -year-old Alejandro Valverde, who convinced by his climbing and sprinting qualities and holds the third place in the overall standings at the end.
A tough fight it was also for the victory in the points classification. While it first looked like a duel between Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel, Valverde is still mixed about this one. Valverde took in the mountains points and had mitzumischen not shy in mass sprints. After the penultimate stage Valverde was one point ahead of Zabel and Petacchi before 17. The final section won the sprint of the Italians before Zabel, Valverde was only eighth. That was enough to win for Zabel to the blue jersey.
The most successful stage hunter was Alessandro Petacchi with five stage successes.