September 13, 2002 – Mario Cipollini has claimed his third stage win in this year's Vuelta a Espana, his thirteenth major win of this season. Erik Zabel finished second behind Cipo for only the second time this season. Allessandro Petacchi has the most runner-up finishes behind Cipollini this season, with four.

Petacchi had to settle for second behind Super Mario twice in the Giro d'Italia, and twice in the Vuelta so far. Zabel's other second place came in stage seven of the Tirreno- Adriatico. Fred Rodriguez is the only rider to finish runner-up behind Cipollini in two major one-day races this season, namely Milano-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem.

Stage 7: Jaen – Malaga, 196.8 km

1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 4.33.47 (43.13 km/h)
2. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom
3. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) Phonak Hearing Systems
4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
5. Jeroen Blijevens (Ned) Domo-Farm Frites
6. Angelo Furlan (Ita) Alessio
7. Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco-Longoni Sport
8. Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
9. Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step
10. Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza-MSS

30. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal Service

Overall:

1. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 25.25.04
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Telekom 0.14
3. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 0.39
4. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.41
5. FÈlix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93 0.52
6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.57
7. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.14
8. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 1.25
9. J—rg Jaksche (Ger) ONCE-Eroski 1.32
10. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 1.43

128. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal Service 41.50