View source for Roberto Heras

{{short description|Spanish cyclist (born 1974)}}
{{Expand Spanish|topic=bio|Roberto Heras|date=December 2009}}
{{family name hatnote|Heras|Hernández|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name        = Roberto Heras
| image       = Heras.jpg
| caption     = Heras at the [[2005 Vuelta a España]]
| fullname    = Roberto Heras Hernández
| nickname    =
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1974|2|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Béjar]], Spain
| height      = {{height|m=1.72}}
| weight      = {{convert|59|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| currentteam = 
| discipline  = Road
| role        = Rider
| ridertype   = [[Climbing specialist]]
| proyears1   = 1997–2000
| proteam1    = {{UCI team code|KEL|1997}}
| proyears2   = 2001–2003
| proteam2    = {{UCI team code|USP|2001}}
| proyears3   = 2004–2005
| proteam3    = {{UCI team code|ONC|2004}}
| majorwins   = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
::1 TTT stage ([[2003 Tour de France|2003]])
:'''[[Giro d'Italia]]'''
::1 individual stage ([[1999 Giro d'Italia|1999]])
:'''[[Vuelta a España]]'''
::'''[[General classification in the Vuelta a España|General classification]]'''<br>([[2000 Vuelta a España|2000]], [[2003 Vuelta a España|2003]], [[2004 Vuelta a España|2004]], [[2005 Vuelta a España|2005]])
::[[Points classification in the Vuelta a España|Points classification]] ([[2000 Vuelta a España|2000]])
::[[Combination classification in the Vuelta a España|Combination classification]] ([[2002 Vuelta a España|2002]], [[2004 Vuelta a España|2004]])
::10 individual stages ([[1997 Vuelta a España|1997]], [[1998 Vuelta a España|1998]], [[2000 Vuelta a España|2000]], [[2002 Vuelta a España|2002]]–[[2005 Vuelta a España|2005]])
'''[[Race stage|Stage races]]'''
:[[Volta a Catalunya]] ([[2002 Volta a Catalunya|2002]])
}}

'''Roberto Heras Hernández''' (born 1 February 1974) is a Spanish former professional [[road bicycle racer]] who won the [[Vuelta a España]] a record four times. Between [[1997 Vuelta a España|1997]] and [[2005 Vuelta a España|2005]] he finished in the top 5 of the Vuelta every year except [[1998 Vuelta a España|1998]] when he finished 6th. He won a record-tying three times, and then broke the record with a fourth win in 2005, but he was eventually disqualified after being accused of taking [[erythropoietin|EPO]]. Heras chose to fight the accusations and this resulted in a lengthy court case and appeal process.

In June 2011, Heras successfully appealed the disqualification in the civil court of [[Castilla y León]],<ref name="appealvelonews">{{cite news| url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/spanish-civil-court-rules-roberto-heras-2005-doping-positive-invalid_180115 |title=Spanish civil court rules Roberto Heras 2005 doping positive invalid |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=June 25, 2011 |work=Velonews}}</ref> and this decision was upheld in the Spanish supreme court in December 2012. The Spanish cycling federation subsequently reinstated Heras as 2005 Vuelta champion.<ref name="cyclingnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/heras-sues-for-one-million-euros|title=Heras sues for one million euros|work=[[Cyclingnews.com]]|date=13 December 2013}}</ref>

==Early career==
Heras turned professional in 1995 for the Spanish [[cycling team]] [[Kelme (cycling team)|Kelme]]. His first win as a pro came in 1996 in the [[Subida al Naranco]]. Later that year he won the 12th stage of the Vuelta a España. Next year he won another stage at the Vuelta and the [[Klasika Primavera|Clásica de Amorebieta]]. In 1999 he won stages at the [[Volta a Catalunya]] and the [[Giro d'Italia]], and he stood for the first time on the Vuelta's podium, third despite not winning a stage. In 2000 he took two stages and the overall win, which attracted the [[US Postal Service cycling team|US Postal]] cycling team.

==Riding with Lance Armstrong==
From 2001, he raced alongside [[Lance Armstrong]] on the [[US Postal Service cycling team|US Postal Service]] team. As a [[climbing specialist]], he assisted Armstrong in the mountain stages of the [[Tour de France]]. Heras achieved his highest position in the Tour when he finished fifth in [[2000 Tour de France|2000]].

During the [[2002 Tour de France]] [[Lance Armstrong]] was in 2nd place overall going into stage 11 where the race entered the high mountains. Going up the final climb on the [[Tourmalet]] Heras set such a dominating pace at the front of the fragmented [[Peloton]] that all of Armstrong's rivals were dropped with the exception of [[Joseba Beloki]]. The ride put in by Heras set up Armstrong to take over the [[Yellow Jersey]] from the [[ONCE–Eroski]] team led by Beloki, [[Abraham Olano]] and [[Igor González de Galdeano]] who was in the overall lead at the start of Stage 11. Beloki finished 2nd overall in the stage as Heras came in 3rd with both riders behind Armstrong who finally launched his attack for the stage win. The next day in Stage 12 once again Roberto Heras set such a furious pace on the final climb that all of Armstrong's rivals were dropped with the exception of Beloki except this time it was Heras who crossed in 2nd while Beloki took third.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/tdf/tdf2002.html|title=2002 Tour de France results}}</ref>

==Dominating the Vuelta a España==
He had, however, already established himself as a contender for honours in other Tours. He was fifth and a stage winner in the 1997 Vuelta, sixth (and another stage victory) a year later, and third in 1999; that year he finished sixth and won a stage in the [[Giro d'Italia]]. His first Vuelta win came in 2000 (when he also won two stages and the points classification), and he won again in [[2003 Vuelta a España|2003]].

At the end of 2003, he left US Postal to lead the Spanish [[Liberty Seguros–Würth team|Liberty Seguros]] team. He was thought to be a contender for the 2004 Tour de France but abandoned after the 16th stage due to lack of fitness.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/special_events/cycling/newsid_3055000/3055469.stm|title=Roberto Heras' Vuelta mountain guide|date=12 July 2003|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Heras entered the [[2004 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]] and won, equalling [[Tony Rominger]]'s record three wins. During the first mountain stages, it seemed an easy win but in the last week he had a challenge from [[Santiago Pérez (cyclist)|Santiago Pérez]].

In the [[2005 Vuelta a España]], Heras won two mountain stages (including the [[Pajares Ski Resort|Estación de Esquí de Pajares]]) and lost the last time trial by less than a second, something nobody expected from the non-time-trial-specialist Heras. Heras won for the fourth time, a record.

However, a drug test in November 2005, two months after the race, showed a positive test for [[erythropoietin|EPO]] from the day of time trial (stage 20).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/nov05/nov25news2|title=www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling|website=autobus.cyclingnews.com}}</ref> Heras was fired and faced a two-year suspension. His Vuelta win was given to second-place finisher, Russian [[Denis Menchov]].

Heras appealed, alleging inaccuracies in the testing and mishandling of his samples. He appealed this decision in the civil court of [[Castilla y León]], and was successful.<ref name="appealvelonews" /> The Spanish cycling federation appealed at the Spanish supreme court, but in December 2012 this court upheld the decision; the Spanish cycling federation subsequently reinstated Heras as 2005 champion and Heras went on to sue the federation for over one million euro in purported lost earnings.<ref name="cyclingnews.com"/> In January 2016, Heras was awarded €724,000 in compensation from the Spanish state,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fotheringham|first1=Alasdair|title=Spanish state sentenced to pay Roberto Heras €724,000 in compensation|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-state-sentenced-to-pay-roberto-heras-724000-in-compensation/|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=9 May 2017|date=30 January 2016}}</ref> a sentence that was confirmed on 9 May 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roberto Heras' state compensation of €724,000 confirmed|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roberto-heras-state-compensation-of-724000-confirmed/|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=9 May 2017|date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

==Career achievements==
===Major results===
{{div col start}}
;1996
: 10th [[Klasika Primavera|Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta]]
;1997
: 1st [[Subida al Naranco]]
: 3rd [[Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama]]
: 5th Overall [[1997 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stage 12
: 8th Overall [[1997 Vuelta a Murcia|Vuelta a Murcia]]
: 9th Overall [[Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme]]
;1998
: 1st [[Klasika Primavera|Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta]]
: 2nd [[Subida al Naranco]]
: 3rd [[Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama]]
: 4th [[1998 Trofeo Forla de Navarra|Trofeo Forla de Navarra]]
: 5th Overall [[Vuelta a La Rioja]]
: 6th Overall [[1998 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stage 19
: 6th Overall [[1998 Vuelta a Asturias|Vuelta a Asturias]]
: 8th Overall [[Vuelta a Aragón]]
: 10th Overall [[1998 Paris–Nice|Paris–Nice]]
: 10th Overall [[Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme]]
;1999
: 1st [[Klasika Primavera|Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta]]
: 2nd [[Spanish National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 2nd Overall [[1999 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]]
::1st Stage 6
: 2nd [[Gran Premio de Llodio]]
: 3rd Overall [[1999 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 5th Overall [[1999 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
::1st Stage 21
: 5th Overall [[Tour of Galicia]]
;2000
: 1st [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px]] Overall [[2000 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st [[File:Jersey silver.svg|20px]] [[Points classification in the Vuelta a España|Points classification]] 
::1st Stages 7 & 20
: 1st Stage 5 [[Euskal Bizikleta]]
: 3rd Overall [[Vuelta a La Rioja]]
: 3rd [[Klasika Primavera|Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta]]
: 3rd [[Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama]]
: 5th Overall [[2000 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 5th Overall [[Tour of Galicia]]
: 6th Overall [[2000 Vuelta a Asturias|Vuelta a Asturias]]
;2001
: 2nd Overall [[Vuelta a Aragón]]
: 4th Overall [[2001 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
;2002
: 1st [[File:MaillotVolta.png|20px]] Overall [[2002 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]]
::1st Stage 1 ([[Team time trial|TTT]])
: 2nd Overall [[2002 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st [[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] [[Combination classification in the Vuelta a España|Combination classification]]
::1st Stages 6 & 15
::Held [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px]] after Stages 15–20
::Held [[File:Jersey orange.svg|20px]] after Stage 18 
: 8th Overall [[2002 Vuelta a Burgos|Vuelta a Burgos]]
: 9th Overall [[2002 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
;2003
: 1st [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px]] Overall [[2003 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stage 20
: 1st Stage 4 ([[Team time trial|TTT]]) [[2003 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 2nd Overall [[2003 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]]
;2004
: 1st [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px]] Overall [[2004 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st [[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] [[Combination classification in the Vuelta a España|Combination classification]]
::1st Stage 12
::Held [[File:Jersey granate.svg|20px]] after Stages 12–16
: 1st [[File:Jersey blue.svg|20px]] Overall [[Euskal Bizikleta]]
: 5th Overall [[Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas]]
;2005
: 1st [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px]] Overall [[2005 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stages 6 & 15
::Held [[File:Jersey blue-fish.svg|20px]] after Stages 15–20
::Held [[File:Jersey granate.svg|20px]] after Stage 6 
::Held [[File:Jersey orangewhitegreen.svg|20px]] after Stages 6–8
: 9th Overall [[Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme]]
;2009
: 1st [[Brompton World Championships]]
{{div col end}}

===Grand Tour general classification results timeline===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tour]]
! scope="col" | 1997
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey pink.svg|20px|link=|alt=A pink jersey]] [[General classification in the Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
|—
|—
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[1999 Giro d'Italia|5]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|link=|alt=A yellow jersey]] [[General classification in the Tour de France|Tour de France]]
|—
|—
|—
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[2000 Tour de France|5]]
|[[2001 Tour de France|15]]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[2002 Tour de France|9]]
|[[2003 Tour de France|34]]
|[[2004 Tour de France|DNF]]
|[[2005 Tour de France|45]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|link=|alt=A yellow jersey]]/[[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px|link=|alt=A gold jersey]] [[List of Vuelta a España general classification winners|Vuelta a España]]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[1997 Vuelta a España|5]]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[1998 Vuelta a España|6]]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[1999 Vuelta a España|'''3''']]
| style="background:gold;"  |[[2000 Vuelta a España|'''1''']]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[2001 Vuelta a España|4]]
|style="background:#ddddff;"|[[2002 Vuelta a España|'''2''']]
| style="background:gold;"  |[[2003 Vuelta a España|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;"  |[[2004 Vuelta a España|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;"  |[[2005 Vuelta a España|'''1''']]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Legend
|-
! scope="row" | —
| Did not compete
|-
! scope="row" | [[Did not finish|DNF]]
| Did not finish
|}

==See also==
* [[List of doping cases in cycling]]
*[[List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports links}}

{{Vuelta a Espana winners}}
{{Vuelta a España Points Classification}}
{{Vuelta a España Combination Classification}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heras, Roberto}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Béjar]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Province of Salamanca]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Castile and León]]
[[Category:Doping cases in cycling]]
[[Category:Vuelta a España winners]]
[[Category:Spanish Vuelta a España stage winners]]
[[Category:Spanish Giro d'Italia stage winners]]
[[Category:Spanish male cyclists]]