Who doesn't remember Roberto Heras? The cyclist from Salamanca was one of the best climbers in the international peloton between the late 90s and the early years of the new millennium. His career in road cycling led him to be a luxury domestique for Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France and team leader in the Vuelta a España, where he achieved a historic record with four victories (2000, 2003, 2004, and 2005).
However, his last title in the Vuelta was annulled after a controversial positive for EPO in the penultimate stage of 2005, which led the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation to sanction him with two years of inactivity and to strip him of the victory. After years of legal battles, in 2011 the Superior Court of Justice of Castilla y León annulled the sanction due to irregularities in the sample collection process. Finally, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Heras and ordered that he be compensated with 724,904 euros, officially restoring his fourth win in the Vuelta a España.
Beyond the road, Roberto Heras has remained linked to the world of cycling and in recent years has participated in various mountain bike competitions, especially in endurance and MTB marathon events. His skill as a climber has allowed him to stand out in long-distance events and extreme challenges on demanding terrain.
The story of Heras is a clear example of struggle both on and off the roads and trails. Whether in a grand tour on a road bike or facing steep climbs on a mountain bike, his legacy lives on in the world of cycling.