www.cyclingnews.com presents the 57th Vuelta a España, 2002.

Italian speedster Danilo Di Luca from the Saeco-Longoni Sport Team will be writing a diary for Cyclingnews.com during this year's Vuelta a España. The classy rider has been in excellent form leading into the 2002 Vuelta, with a recent victory in the Giro Del Veneto showing he has hit Spain's major tour with motivation and speed. With his consistent performances in Italy during August, Di Luca is looking to the Vuelta with confidence. "The Giro del Veneto was my last race before the Vuelta... we've got big plans for the Spanish race. Simoni will be going for the overall and I'm looking for stage wins."

Index to all entries

Stage 12 - September 19: Segovia - Burgos, 210.5 km

We went how fast?

Sheltering in the peloton
Photo: © Lavuelta.com

Today when I was in the race, I asked myself a question: just how strong are these Spanish riders?!

I can assure you that even though we had a stage that finished in a sprint (great job Petacchi!) it was a really hard stage today. I saw very few stretches of flat terrain; it was up and down all day long.

We went really hard all day, thanks to the guys in the break and Fassa Bortolo that rode hard tempo to bring them back. I thought that with 10km to go, Tauler would get away with the big win, but we didn't slow up behind him and the wide road where we could see the Kelme man helped us too.

I didn't ride the sprint today; I didn't think I would get a good place considering that I am feeling tired after yesterday's attack. Plus Glomser is riding well and he deserves a shot at a good placing and I didn't want to get in his way. Sacchi and Glomser rode really well today in the finale and Saeco-Longoni Sport had some good placings today.

Tomorrow ought to be another tough stage with a likely bunch finish because Telekom is looking for wins for Zabel.

Ciao,
Danilo Di Luca

Danilo Di Luca's official website - www.danilodiluca.com

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