Tom Danielson might have had trouble falling asleep Sunday night a few hours after riding the best time trial of his career, but it wasn’t because of any post-stage euphoria. A karaoke show was in full flight in his hotel courtyard, and he was hoping the singers would shut up soon enough for him to catch some shuteye before hitting two difficult climbing stages in the Pyrenees beginning Monday.

Danielson shot to fifth place overall in the Vuelta a España after his strong sixth-place finish in Sunday’s 10th stage around the party town of Lloret de Mar. While revelers were bringing the Spanish summer to a close, Danielson was reflecting on his performance halfway through the race.

So far for the 27-year-old, the Vuelta has unfolded like a dream. He’s hoping the good vibrations continue through the final stage of the 60th Vuelta. VeloNews European correspondent Andrew Hood caught up with Danielson on Sunday evening. Here are excerpts from the interview.

VeloNews: You had a very strong time trial. What were your expectations?

Tom Danielson: I didn’t have any expectations. This is my first grand tour that I’ve really been able to prepare for, so it’s all new. I started the Giro with a knee problem, so I couldn’t race as well as I had hoped, so this is really my first grand tour. Because of that, I really don’t have any expectations. Today was just the same, taking it day by day and focusing on getting to Madrid.

VN: You must have known the course, since it’s so close to your home in Girona?

TD: I knew the course well. Just two weeks before the Vuelta I rode it again. I’ve never done a time trial this long before. The time trial in the Tour de Georgia was only 40 minutes, so this was another 20 minutes. For me it was very difficult. I took my time and focused on my breathing. Johan Bruyneel coached me through it. He said I started a little too slow and told me to speed up. I was a little too cautious because I didn’t want to crack in the finale. In the end, I made it okay. It’s the best time trial I’ve ever ridden.

VN: It seems like it’s been a case of so far, so good in the Vuelta. How did your first week unfold?

TD: My morale is good and each day is a lot of fun. The racing is hard and everyone is suffering from the difficult race we’ve had so far. I’m learning every day about what it takes to be a good racer. I’m doing my best to move around the peloton and conserve my energy. The team is awesome and everyone has good fitness.

VN: You’re halfway through your second start in a grand tour. How is your morale?

TD: It’s been an adventure. I’m motivated. I wake up every day and say, ‘Let’s go.’ It’s very exciting. I love my job.

VN: You had to abandon the Giro with a knee problem. How has it been holding up under the pressure of racing so far?

TD: The knee is very good. I’m watching it, but we’ve corrected the imbalance that caused the problem. Cycling is so difficult and if you turn your back on the problem, something else could arise. Now it’s very important to pay very close attention to minor aches and pains. I’ve learned a lot from the knee problem. It’s almost halfway through the race and it’s important to finish these stages strong.

VN: You’ve admitted you’ve had problems finding your position in the peloton. You must be improving on that.

TD: For sure it’s getting better. I’ve been following Michael (Barry) around a lot. He’s so good in the peloton and he knows me well and my weaknesses. He tells me when I make a mistake. I’ve been learning a lot with him. I’ve been trying to conserve energy. I tend to ride on the outside of the peloton, but that’s one of the hardest places to ride. I’ve been riding more in the center and that’s helped a lot to conserve energy.

VN: Do you have someone on the team designated to protect you?

TD: Yeah, that’s Michael.

VN: It must have been exciting to see Max Van Heeswijk win the stage on Friday.

TD: That was really good. What was most amazing is that he flatted with about 15km to go and Michael Barry dropped back to help him out. We were going full blast and we had 200 guys in a line and it was on that crazy road. When I heard that Michael was supposed to drop back for Max, I didn’t think I would be seeing those guys again. With about 4km to go, Michael came by and then put Max on the wheel, I thought, ‘Damn.’ The sprint was icing on the cake.

VN: What happened on the stage to Valdelinares, the first climbing stage on Thursday? You were with the leaders at first, then fell back?

TD: I had a bad day. It was a long stage, the race has been hard, all the wind, the nerves, I was nervous for my first climbing stage. This is really my first grand tour. It’s been 200km after 200km after 200km. I’m not the best in the peloton. I haven’t done this before, so for sure I was suffering. I was just limiting my losses. I just did the best I could. I didn’t climb the way I wanted to.

VN: Liberty Seguros was putting the hurt on the bunch, how did you respond to the speed?

TD: Liberty Seguros was just incredible. When I got to the last climb, I realized I just didn’t have the legs. I didn’t want to completely blow, so I just went at my own pace. I got in a group with Simoni and some other guys and just rode. I didn’t feel like I was going that fast and when I went to the front to take a pull, the legs just weren’t there. If that was my bad day, I’ll take it.

VN: What do you expect in the coming mountain stages in the Pyrenees? Did you preview the climbs?

TD: I know some of the climbs. I have no expectations. I’m just taking it day by day. I’d like to go a lot faster than I did in that first mountain stage. Next year I’ll tell you exactly where I will attack, but right now I’m not putting any pressure on myself. VN: You’re in fifth place midway through the race. What are your goals now?

TD: I know I am riding strong, but at this point it’s more important to learn about my body, the race, the tactics and my position in the peloton. I am learning everything I can. When I come back next year, I want to do a lot better. Right now I’m not going to worry about the overall. Right now, I want to go out and have a great time and go up some hills fast.

VN: You’re entering new territory here. You’ve finished 10-day races, like Langkawi, got nine days into the Giro, so now it’s like a new chapter every day?

TD: The Vuelta is a very hard, very long race. Langkawi is 10 days, but it’s not as hard as this. We’ve been doing 200km every day. There’s never a dull moment in the Vuelta. I’ve been very nervous. I want to do the best I can. I’ve been using a lot of energy just from being nervous. I am trying to calm down and learn what I can and have fun.

VN: How have you been holding up so far physically? You haven’t had any crashes, have you?

TD: No crashes, knock wood. I’ve been surprised how well I’ve been recovering. I’ve come into the Vuelta with really good fitness and my body’s responding well. I hope in the next week I’ll get stronger.

VN: How important is it to you to get to Madrid?

TD: It will be huge. I’ve been working hard for it. I’ll be happy. My goal is not just to get to Madrid, but to get to Madrid strong. If I get there and feel good, then I’ll be even more excited for next year.