The present invention relates to a stent delivery system and a process for mounting a stent onto a delivery system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of loading a stent onto a balloon and mounting the stent balloon assembly onto a catheter. The premounting of the stent onto the balloon subassembly allows the stent to be crimped in a way that the crimping recoil can be compensated and stent retention is kept at a maximum.