"Dani Diaz has won San Luis and is again knocking on the door of European cycling." That was the assessment after the last edition of the biggest race in Latin America which ended with a triumph of the Argentine rider. It was his second victory in the race after he also won the 2013 edition.

His second win in San Luis has allowed him to open the doors to European cycling and more specifically, to the Delko Marseille team. With the French squad, he will try to do achieve a very difficult goal between January 18 and 2: his third overall victory despite the presence of riders like Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana.

 "Without my victories in San Luis, I do not think I would have had this opportunity," the Argentinian telle BiciCiclismo. "In 2016 I will have a European calendar. Many things will change but I am working hard to ve at 100% at the Tour de San Luis, as it is a race that I love. I also want to start on the right foot at Delko Marseille ". 

In 2013, American Tejay Van Garderen and Brazilian Alex Diniz joined him on the podium; Colombians Rodolfo Torres and Nairo Quintana joined him in 2015. Dani Diaz has become the 'giant killer’ of the Tour de San Luis because he has managed to beat some of the best riders in the world. "I am not daunted by the large teams or the big names that come," he explains. "It's very important to stay focused on the preparation for this race, be very focused and having checked the stages,” he says.

It also helps, of course, to be riding at home surrounded by the Argentina fans: "The Tour de San Luis is giving me a lot. It is a bit of everything: the course, with hard summit finishes, environment, riding at home, the form ... But perhaps the most influential is the motivation," which in his case is always high. 

In 2016, however, he will change many things. "I live in Durango (Vizcaya), in the Basque Country", an area that breathes cycling like no other and where he already lived when he defended the colors of Cafes Baque. "But a couple of times a year I will go back to Argentina," he adds. "It's part of my agreement with Delko Marseille," a team that will debut in the professional category. "The months of February, March and April are very important to me because the team wants to be stronger to compete in European races at that time." 

San Luis has greeted the best cyclists in the world. "The rider who has impressed me the most, was Alberto Contador because he has a lot of class and the team is always in a good position and attentive. I have also met Purito Rodriguez and Dani Moreno who seemed to be nice people and very simple. It's nice to see that major figures in cycling have that personality," he says of riders that he will often face in 2016.