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The 2003 Giro d'Italia was the 86th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began in Lecce with a 201 km (125 mi) mass-start stage. The race came to a close with a 33 km (21 mi) individual time trial that began and ended in the Italian city of Milan.[1] Nineteen teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Gilberto Simoni of the Saeco team.[1] Second and third were the Italian Stefano Garzelli and Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych.[1]
| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dates | May 10 – June 1, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,476.5 km (2,160 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 89h 32' 09" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It was Simoni's second win in the Giro. After the race, it was discovered that sixth-placed Raimondas Rumšas had tested positive in this Giro.
This edition of the Giro was the first UCI endorsed race where the wearing of helmets was compulsory.
With Gilberto Simoni's general classification victories in 2003 and in 2001, Simoni became the eighteenth rider to repeat as winner of the Giro d'Italia. In addition to the general classification, Simoni also won the points classification. In the race's other classifications, Colombia–Selle Italia rider Fredy González won the mountains classification and Magnus Bäckstedt of the Team Fakta-Pata Chips team won the intergiro classification.[1] Lampre finished as the winners of the Trofeo Fast Team classification, ranking each of the nineteen teams contesting the race by lowest cumulative time.[1] The other team classification, the Trofeo Super Team classification, where the teams' riders are awarded points for placing within the top twenty in each stage and the points are then totaled for each team was won by Fassa Bortolo.[1]
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A total of 19 teams were invited to participate in the 2003 Giro d'Italia.[2] Each team sent a squad of nine riders (only Kelme–Costa Blanca started eight), so the Giro began with a peloton of 170 cyclists.[2] Out of the 170 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 97 riders made it to the finish in Milan.[1]
The 19 teams that took part in the race were:[2]
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The route for the 2003 Giro d'Italia was unveiled by race director Carmine Castellano on 30 November 2002 in Milan.[3] It contained two time trial events, all of which were individual. The organizers divided the remaining eighteen stages into three categories: flat stages, rolling stages, and mountain stages. Twelve of the stages were declared flat stages. Of the seven stages remaining, three stages were designated rolling stages and three were ranked as mountain stages. In the stages containing categorized climbs, six had summit finishes: stage 3, to Terme Luigiane;[4] stage 7, to Monte Terminillo;[5] stage 12, to Monte Zoncolan;[6] stage 14, to Alpe di Pampeago;[7] stage 18, to Chianale;[8] and stage 19, to Cascata del Toce.[9] The organizers chose to include two rest days. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was 122 km (76 mi) longer, contained the same amount of rest days, and one less individual time trial. In addition, this race lacked an opening prologue like the previous year had.
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 May | Lecce to Lecce | 201 km (125 mi) |  |
Flat stage |  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 2 | 11 May | Copertino to Matera | 177 km (110 mi) | |
Flat stage | Fabio Baldato (ITA) | |
| 3 | 12 May | Policoro to Terme Luigiane | 145 km (90 mi) |  |
Medium mountain stage | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | |
| 4 | 13 May | Terme Luigiane to Vibo Valentia | 170 km (106 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage |  Robbie McEwen (AUS) | |
| 5 | 14 May | Messina to Catania | 176 km (109 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 15 May | Rest day | ||||||
| 6 | 16 May | Maddaloni to Avezzano | 222 km (138 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 7 | 17 May | Avezzano to Monte Terminillo | 146 km (91 mi) |  |
Mountain stage | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | |
| 8 | 18 May | Rieti to Arezzo | 214 km (133 mi) | |
Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | |
| 9 | 19 May | Arezzo to Montecatini Terme | 160 km (99 mi) | |
Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | |
| 10 | 20 May | Montecatini Terme to Faenza | 202 km (126 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage |  Kurt Asle Arvesen (NOR) | |
| 11 | 21 May | Faenza to San Donà di Piave | 222 km (138 mi) | |
Flat stage | Robbie McEwen (AUS) | |
| 12 | 22 May | San Donà di Piave to Monte Zoncolan | 185 km (115 mi) | |
Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | |
| 13 | 23 May | Pordenone to Marostica | 149 km (93 mi) | |
Flat stage | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 14 | 24 May | Marostica to Alpe di Pampeago | 162 km (101 mi) | |
Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | |
| 15 | 25 May | Merano to Bolzano | 42.5 km (26 mi) |  |
Individual time trial |  Aitor González (ESP) | |
| 16 | 26 May | Arco to Pavia | 207 km (129 mi) | |
Flat stage | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 27 May | Rest day | ||||||
| 17 | 28 May | Salice Terme to Asti | 117 km (73 mi) | |
Flat stage | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | |
| 18 | 29 May | Sanuario di Vicoforte to Chianale | 174 km (108 mi) | |
Mountain stage | Dario Frigo (ITA) | |
| 19 | 30 May | Canelli to Cascata del Toce | 239 km (149 mi) | |
Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | |
| 20 | 31 May | Cannobio to Cantù | 133 km (83 mi) | |
Flat stage | Giovanni Lombardi (ITA) | |
| 21 | 1 June | Milan to Milan | 33 km (21 mi) | |
Individual time trial |  Serhiy Honchar (UKR) | |
| Total | 3,476.5 km (2,160 mi) | ||||||
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In the 2003 Giro d'Italia, five different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner is considered the winner of the Giro.[11]
Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a mauve jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The stage win awarded 25 points, second place awarded 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down the line, to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.[11]
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, or third category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The highest point in the Giro (called the Cima Coppi), which in 2003 was the Colle d'Esischie, afforded more points than the other first-category climbs.[11]
The fourth jersey represented the intergiro classification, marked by a blue jersey.[11] The calculation for the intergiro is similar to that of the general classification, in each stage there is a midway point that the riders pass through a point and where their time is stopped. As the race goes on, their times compiled and the person with the lowest time is the leader of the intergiro classification and wears the blue jersey.[11]
There were also two classifications for teams. The first was the Trofeo Fast Team. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time.[11] The Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team.[11]
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
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| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Denotes the winner of the General classification[1] |  |
Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification[1] |
 |
Denotes the winner of the Points classification[1] |  |
Denotes the winner of the Intergiro classification[1] |
General classification
| Rider | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
Saeco | 89h 32' 09" |
| 2 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | + 7' 06" |
| 3 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) |
Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | + 7' 11" |
| 4 | Andrea Noè (ITA) |
Alessio | + 9' 24" |
| 5 |  Georg Totschnig (AUT) |
Gerolsteiner | + 9' 42" |
| DSQ |
|
Lampre | + 9' 50" |
| 6 | Dario Frigo (ITA) |
Fassa Bortolo | + 10' 50" |
| 7 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) |
De Nardi | + 14' 14" |
| 8 | Franco Pellizotti (ITA) |
Alessio | + 14' 26" |
| 9 | Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | + 19' 21" |
Points classification
| Rider | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
Saeco | 154 |
| 2 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | |
| 3 |  Ján Svorada (CZE) |
Lampre | 137 |
| 4 |  Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) |
Team Fakta-Pata Chips | 119 |
| 5 | Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | 91 |
| 6 | Dario Frigo (ITA) |
Fassa Bortolo | 90 |
| 7 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) |
Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | 88 |
| 8 | Giovanni Lombardi (ITA) |
Domina Vacanze-Elitron | 81 |
| 9 | Aitor González (ESP) |
Fassa Bortolo | 70 |
| 10 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) |
De Nardi | 69 |
Mountains classification
| Rider | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fredy González (COL) |
Colombia–Selle Italia | 100 |
| 2 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
Saeco | 78 |
| 3 | Constantino Zaballa (ESP) |
Kelme–Costa Blanca | 65 |
| 4 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | 36 |
| 5 | Dario Frigo (ITA) |
Fassa Bortolo | 29 |
| 6 | Paolo Lanfranchi (ITA) |
Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | 24 |
| 7 | Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) |
Fassa Bortolo | 15 |
| 8 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) |
Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | 12 |
| 9 | Georg Totschnig (AUT) |
Gerolsteiner | |
| 10 | Andrea Noè (ITA) |
Alessio | 10 |
Intergiro classification
| Rider | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) |
Team Fakta-Pata Chips | 50h 20' 37" |
| 2 | Ján Svorada (CZE) |
Lampre | + 2' 02" |
| 3 | Constantino Zaballa (ESP) |
Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 2' 26" |
| 4 | Fortunato Baliani (ITA) |
Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave | + 3' 06" |
| 5 | Aitor González (ESP) |
Fassa Bortolo | + 3' 09" |
| 6 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) |
De Nardi | + 3' 20" |
| 7 |  Sandy Casar (FRA) |
FDJeux.com | + 3' 30" |
| 8 | Ignacio Gutierrez Cataluna (ESP) |
Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 3' 36" |
| 9 | Dario Frigo (ITA) |
Fassa Bortolo | + 3' 50" |
| 10 | Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA) |
Vini Caldirola–So.di | + 3' 54" |
Trofeo Fast Team classification
| Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lampre | 269h 37' 37" |
| 2 | Saeco | + 1' 08" |
| 3 | Alessio | + 5' 46" |
| 4 | Fassa Bortolo | + 18' 39" |
| 5 | Vini Caldirola–So.di | + 20' 54" |
| 6 | Mercatone Uno–Scanavino | + 32' 41" |
| 7 | Gerolsteiner | + 53' 40" |
| 8 | CCC–Polsat | + 57' 04" |
| 9 | De Nardi | + 1h 14' 02" |
| 10 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 1h 17' 35" |
Trofeo Super Team classification
| Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fassa Bortolo | 561 |
| 2 | Lampre | 394 |
| 3 | Alessio | 354 |
| 4 | Domina Vacanze-Elitron | 343 |
| 5 | Vini Caldirola–So.di | 315 |
| 6 | Saeco | 312 |
| 7 | De Nardi | 258 |
| 8 | Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | 251 |
| 9 | Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo | 247 |
| 10 | Team Fakta-Pata Chips | 225 |
Minor classifications
Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes.[11] Colombian Fredy González won the Most Combative classification.[1] The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage.[11] The Azzurri d'Italia classification was won by Gilberto Simoni.[1] The Trofeo Fuga Piaggio classification rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear.[11] The classification was won by Constantino Zaballa.[1] Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements.[11] Colombia–Selle Italia was the most successful in avoiding penalties after not being penalized during the race, and so won the Fair Play classification.[1]
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