September 29, 2002 – By triumphing in the final time trial today Aitor Gonzalez claimed the overall win in the 2002 Vuelta. It is the fourth time in the history of the Vuelta that a rider takes the overall win on the last race day without having worn the Amarillo during the preceding three weeks. 2001 winner Angel Luis Casero was the last rider to accomplish this feat.

In the history of the Tour the France two riders have managed to claim the yellow jersey for the first time in the final stage: Jean Robic in 1947 and Jan Janssen in 1968. In the Giro d'Italia this has not occurred.

For 27-year-old Vuelta debutant Aitor Gonzalez today's time trail victory meant his third stage win and his second time trail triumph this Vuelta. The Kelme rider finished the Vuelta with a 2 minutes 14 seconds lead over runner-up Roberto Heras, and a 3 minute and 11 seconds margin on number three Joseba Beloki.

Sevilla, Mayo and Casero completed the all-Spanish top six of the overall classifications.

Stage 21 : Warner Bros Park – Stadion Santiago Bernabeu – ITT, 41.2 km

1. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 47.54
(51.98 km/h)
2. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 1.23
3. David Plaza (Spa) Team Coast 1.45
4. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.55
5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.10
6. Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 2.27
7. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Team Coast 2.29
8. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.35
9. Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Coast 2.43
10. Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2.45


Final Overall:

1. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 75.13.52
2. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 2.14
3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 3.11
4. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 3.26
5. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.42
6. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 6.33
7. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 6.38
8. FÈlix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93 6.46
9. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Team Coast 8.29
10. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 9.22