September 26, 2002 – Santiago Blanco has won the last mountain stage of the Vuelta a España 2002. The 28 year-old cyclist of the Ibanesto.com team was the sole survivor of a breakaway group during the 18th stage, that was 193 kilometres long, started in Salamanca and finished on top of La Covatilla. After 32 km, Blanco had left the pack together with 17 other cyclists. The last 50 km he drove solo towards the finish line. Overall leader Roberto Heras finished second 39 seconds behind Blanco, thereby strengthening the lead over his nearest rival Aítor Gonzalez by 37 seconds. Antonio Flecha
finished third.

Heras' total lead over Aítor Gonzalez is now one minute and twelve seconds. Whether this will be enough to win the Vuelta a España this Sunday is still very much in doubt as Gonzalez is the better time trial specialist. On Sunday, an individual time trial over 41.2 kilometres will be decisive in what may turn out to be a very close race over who will be the winner of the Vuelta 2002.

For Santiago Blanco, it was the second stage win in two years. In 2001, Blanco had already won the 10th stage at Super Molina which was also an uphill finish.

Stage 18 – Salamanca – Estación de la Covatilla (Béjar), 193.7 km

1. Santiago Blanco (Spa) iBanesto.com 5.04.17 (38.19km/h)
2. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 0.39
3. J.Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com 0.47
4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 0.51
5. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 1.09
6. Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93
7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.16
8. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
9. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 1.26
10. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.31

Overall:

1 Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 66.58.09
2 Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.12
3 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.45
4 Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.09
5 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.15
6 Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93 4.35
7 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.48
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 6.04
9 Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 6.18
10 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Team Coast 7.00