Heras confirms supremacy

Heras: head and shoulders over the orthers in Spain

Roberto Heras won the penultimate stage of the Tour of Spain - an event he is now almost certain to win on Sunday.

Saturday's 128-km 20th stage from Avila to the climb of the Alto de Abantos was the last major threat to the Spaniard's lead three minutes and 41 seconds.

By winning ahead of fellow Spaniard Roberto Laiseka and Italy's Gilberto Simoni, he increased his advantage over second-placed Angel Casero to four minutes, 26.

It is unimagineable that this gap can be bridged during Sunday's time trial and only unforeseen circumstances will not cost Heras the title.

Few forecast that the in-form Spaniard would be the man to win this stage, believing that he would be content to defend his lead.

However a supreme display of the Kelme rider's explosive climbing stamped his authority on this race and it would be no surprise to see the gap widened in Sunday's final stage, when the Tour ends with a 38-km time trial around Madrid.

During the 10km final climb on Saturday Heras shadowed the repeated attacks from Laiseka and then slipped through on the inside of the last curve to pull away from his two rivals.