Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Bayern Rundfahrt Photo ©: Schaaf |
57th Vuelta a España
Spain, September 7- 29, 2002
Vai Dani! Danilo Di Luca's Vuelta diary
 |
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 6 - September 12: Granada - La Pandera (Jaen), 153.1 km
No rest till La Pandera
Did you see today's stage on the TV my friends? Did you enjoy it? I hope so, because today was one of those days that shows why our sport is so great!
We were on the rivet all day!
It's amazing how there are no quiet times in this Vuelta. Even when the going is easy, the riding is hard!
Today ONCE worked super-hard to limit the gap to the 16 riders who escaped. You might not think they would have much of an advantage, but in fact there were danger men in the break like Ferrara of Alessio and Tauler of Kelme.
Saeco's small part in the chase was carried out in the kilometres before the second climb by the Austrian Gerrit Glomser (Bravissimo!)
At the beginning of the climb my team-mate Simoni got away well, with the aim of being among the riders who had a chance of taking the day's final victory. I kept an eye on Sevilla who had been the strongest climber the day before.
The climb: It snaked up the mountainside like a capital 'S'. Always a sign that you're about to suffer on the bike. Hard, hard, hard.
In the 15 percent section when US Postal forced the pace I was in the 39/25É It was always hard!
At one point we had a comfortable trio: Heras, Sevilla and Di Luca. But then Heras piled on the pace and was away. Today he was the strongest.
I was happy with how I went today. I wasn't too far behind the winner and I'm now 12th in the general classification. I've moved up a few places so for the moment I'm satisfied.
Till tomorrow
Danilo Di Luca
Danilo Di Luca's official website - www.danilodiluca.com
