CALAR ALTO, Spain, 17 September 2004 — Roberto Heras lined up the chance of a third Tour of Spain triumph by taking yesterday’s 145-km stage and the overall lead.
Heras rode home alone in stage 12 from Almeria to the summit finish of Calar Alto 34 seconds ahead of fellow Spaniard Santiago Perez.
The 30-year-old clocked four hours 19 minutes and 30 seconds and now leads overall by 35 seconds from compatriot Francisco Mancebo, who was third yesterday.
Previous leader Floyd Landis of the US trailed in 15th, over three minutes behind, and has slipped to fifth overall.
Tour of Spain winner in 2000 and last year, Heras was cautious about his chances of taking a third victory overall, but the mountainous terrain remaining in the nine stages, most particularly the uphill time trial to Sierra Nevada on Sunday, all favor the Spaniard.
He insisted: “There’s more than half the mountain left and nearly half the race, so we have to take things day by day.
“It’s been an important step, but rivals like (Alejandro) Valverde and Mancebo will be dangerous for sure. I still don’t have enough time on them.”
The Liberty Seguros rider took off seven and a half kms from the final summit from a lead group of six for the eighth Tour of Spain stage win of his career and the leader’s jersey.
“I wasn’t looking for either the stage win or the lead, more to open up a time gap on the other favourites.” said Heras.
“The team’s strategy of upping the pace on the climb proved very important and then I could take over to finish off their work.”
