Ride Of My Life: David Lopez

In a new feature, we invite our riders to re-live their biggest days on the bike - starting with a Grand Tour stage win for Lopez.

With the season now over, we've sat down with our riders to chat about the biggest days of their career on the bike. From a big win to a breakthrough performance, these are the rides that meant the most. First up it's our Spanish domestique David Lopez.

Sunday 5 September 2010: Vuelta a Espana - Stage nine: Calpe to Alcoi - 187.7km

Capturing a Grand Tour victory is a proud moment for any rider, and in 2010 David Lopez entered that elite club during his home race - the Vuelta a Espana.

Stage nine saw the peloton take on six categorised climbs on the road from Calpe to Alcoi. Fending off the advances of 14 other riders in the breakaway - this is the story of how Lopez took the biggest win of his career.

Hi David! Tell us what you remember about that day

Back in 2010 I was riding for Caisse d'Epargne. We had some riders for the GC at the Vuelta but I was able to get into the break that day on a small climb. There were a lot of good riders in the group who had more experience and had won a lot of races. I never thought that I could win the stage with that set of riders in the break. But I had a good day (smiles).

How did the stage play out?

I was part of the breakaway group on the stage and at one point there were as many as 15 riders up the road. I tried to attack from far out as I thought that if we all went to the finish there were riders who had a better chance than me. It was a tough final climb but no one was able to go clear. When we finished the climb I attacked just over the top onto the descent. When I saw I had some distance I began to believe I could win.

I think quite a few of the riders like Roman Kreuziger, David Moncoutie and Giampaolo Caruso knew each other, and maybe when I tried the last attack they waited for each other to follow, and that was to my advantage.

Once you had the gap, how did you feel on the run into the finish?

The final kilometres were hard and my rivals came back very close. I only won by six seconds at the finish. The final moments were quite nervous ones for me, but it meant all the more to me because I'd had to work for it. It was on a Sunday so more people were watching the race, both in the crowd and on television. It was a really nice feeling.

What were your emotions after you crossed the line?

It was a mix because I was so tired. It was a very hot day. It was a stage before the rest day so everyone was very fatigued. Honestly, when I finished I didn't really realise what I'd done. I forgot some parts of the race and what had happened. But once I'd had more time for it to sink in I began to appreciate it.

Did you get a lot of phone calls from friends and family?

Because we were heading into the rest day the team bus went straight to the hotel, and my phone was on there. So everyone was calling me but I couldn't speak to them at first. I managed to borrow a phone from our carer so that I could at least call my parents. That was a nice moment. Then when I got back I was able to speak to everyone. Because it was the rest day the next day, I could really enjoy it.

Do you think this victory helped you in your career?

It helped me to believe in myself more, and to take my opportunities when they come. Like I said, when I was in the break I saw all these good riders who I knew could win races. Now, maybe when I'm in the break, other riders look at me and say 'Okay, maybe he can win this race?' At the time it didn't get me a bigger contract or move me to a new team but it was a big moment for me. I'm picked for races not for my wins, but because I can be a reliable member of the team.