Cycling: Heras gains record fourth win in Spain

MADRID - Spanish cyclist Roberto Heras rode into the history books by winning the Tour of Spain for a record fourth time today.

The climbing specialist crossed the finish line secure in the main pack in 32nd place after the final stage which began and ended in Madrid.

Russian Denis Menchov finished second overall, four minutes 36 seconds adrift, with Spaniard Carlos Sastre third, 4min 54sec behind.

"The Tour of Spain is the race which has given me the most, but that doesn't mean I don't want to win abroad as well," Heras, 31, said.

"I can't place a particular value on this fourth overall win, I just do my work the best I can. It's up to others to say what value it has."

Italian Alessandro Petacchi won the 136.5km final stage, his fifth stage win on this year's Tour of Spain.

German Erik Zabel was runner-up to Petacchi with Zabel's compatriot, Heinrich Haussler, third.

"Like a lot of riders, I came here thinking of abandoning early on, but decided to continue to Madrid and this last win is my reward," Petacchi said.

Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez took the king of the mountains honours, Petacchi the points jersey and Comunidad Valenciana-Puertas Castalla the team competition.

Heras seized the race lead for the first time on stage six to Valdelinares, where he took a lone mountain top win ahead of Menchov.

However, the Russian, already victorious in the opening time trial in Granada, proved he was the Spaniard's most serious rival by regaining the lead on stage nine's time trial at Lloret de Mar.

Heras finally dislodged the Russian on stage 15 to Pajares for his second stage win of the race and the overall lead, which he never relinquished.

"Pajares was the stage of my life, the best one I've ever done in any Tour of Spain," Heras said.

Heras came within less than 1sec of taking a third stage win when he finished second in yesterday's final time trial behind compatriot Ruben Plaza.

Whilst Plaza's average speed of 56.218km/h is the fastest for a time trial in Tour of Spain history, Heras has his own place in the cycling annals thanks to his four overall wins.

His team, Liberty Seguros, are now targeting a possible attempt at a fifth in 2006.

"I would like Roberto to race the Tour of Italy in May, and after that he'll either race the Tour de France or tackle the Tour of Spain again," team manager Manolo Saiz said.

- REUTERS