September 21, 2002 – Sergei Smetanine has become the first non-Spanish or Italian rider to claim a stage in this year's Vuelta. The Russian rider escaped after 44 kilometres and held on for the victory. Smetanine's triumph is the tenth Russian stage win in the history of the Vuelta.

In five previous participations in the Vuelta, Smetanine had never before managed to win a stage. His best performance so far was a second place finish in stage 14 of the Vuelta in 1998, when he finished runner-up to Marcel Wüst.

Oscar Sevilla has maintained the lead in the overall classification.

Stage 14 : Santander – Gijón, 190.2 km
1. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria 4.17.23 (44.3km/h)
2 .Oscar Laguna (Spa) Relax-Fuenlabrada 1.57
3. Angelo Furlan (Ita) Alessio 2.39
4 .Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom
5. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
6. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo
7. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Coast
8. Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco-Longoni Sport
9. Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
10 .Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi

Overall:
1. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 50.11.24
2. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.01
3. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 1.42
4. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.04
5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
6 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.47
7. Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93 3.05
8. Guido Trentin (Ita) Cofidis 3.34
9. David Millar (GBr) Cofidis 3.36
10 .Jörg Jaksche (Ger) ONCE-Eroski 3.51