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57th Vuelta a España
Spain, September 7- 29, 2002
Vai Dani! Danilo Di Luca's Vuelta diary
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Nationality: Italian
Team: Saeco-Longoni Sport
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."
Stage 14 - September 21: Santander - Gijón, 190.2 km
Normal stage until the disaster
Yes guys, today's stage could have been a Xerox of yesterday's stage with the long break...the group didn't close down on the break because the leaders teams were not that interested with the big climbing stage coming up tomorrow. The program of the stage was almost identical to Friday until...a big surprise happened and our destiny came along wholesale.
The escort motorcycles that were riding just ahead of the race kind of crashed into each other and one even lost it's side mirror. Then badabing-badaboom! We all fell down...the group was riding hard at 60km/hr so it all became a big mess. 60 riders hit the deck!! Bikes were all over the place...eventually all they all piled up in big heap. I saw Lombardi and Escartin on the ground and a lot of others like Ferrara who had a hard time finishing the stage after this mega-crash.
I ended up OK after the big crash so I want to conclude today's diary with best get-well wishes to all the riders who crashed in the stage. Tomorrow the Angliru!
see you soon,
Danilo
Danilo Di Luca's official website - www.danilodiluca.com
