September 7, 2003 – Luis Perez (Cofidis) took the stage today over CSC's GC man Carlos Sastre. The big news at the start line was the non-start of Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) after a lacklustre team time trial yesterday. After his team was excluded a few days ago because of Cipo's decision not to race, then re-admitted once the Lion King said he'd race, it seems Cipo has had the last laugh on the organizer. Canada's Michael Barry spoke of the tough first road stage, admitting that it was not quite as easy as some would have predicted, “Today was a good day. Fairly hilly with the last climb fairly hard – 6k and in the 9 x 19 today. Our team did well, putting Roberto (Heras) in the main split, but did suffer a dissappointment when Chechu (Rubiera) was caught in a split a long descent just prior to the final climb. Roberto and Triki (Beltran) were in the front and Floyd (Landis) just behind.”Other riders missed the split too, Barry explained. “Angel Casero and Gonzalez both lost a chunk of time to our GC boys which is good as they are two of our GC rivals. Levi Leipheimer lost a lot of time as he was also caught in the big split.” The weather made the stage a bit tricky in parts as well as “it rained on and off all day and some of the descents were a little sketchy. In all it was a really good day for our team, and I was feeling good although my legs were a little tight from the efforts in the TTT last night.”

Stage 2: Gijon – Cangas de Onis, 148 k

1. Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone          3.27.32
(42.79 km/h)
2. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   0.14
4. Miguel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Domina Vacanze-Elitron
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
6. David Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
7. Patrick Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick.Step-Davitamon
8. Igor Astarloa (Spa) Team Saeco
9. Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
10. Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
59. Michael Barry  (Can) US Postal-Berry Floor

Overall:

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                    3.59.47
2. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
3. Isidro Nozal (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                            0.01
4. Marcos Serrano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
5. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor                    0.11
6. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor
7. Aitor Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                                  0.25
8. Unai Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com
9. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com
10. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com
55. Michael Barry  (Can) US Postal-Berry Floor