CALAR ALTO, Spain (AFP) - Spaniard Roberto Heras of the Liberty team grabbed the lead in the Tour of Spain after the 12th stage, a 145km run between Almeria and Calar Alto.
He took the overall race lead Thursday from American rider Floyd Landis of the US Postal team.
Heras, who has won this event twice, imposed himself on the peloton with a decisive charge on the stage which featured a category one climb at the Cara Alto Observatory, reputed to be the toughest in the race.
The Spaniard, who also clinched the eighth stage, finished 38 seconds ahead of Santiago Perez and 53sec in front of Francisco Mancebo while another race favourite Alejandro Valverde was 87sec off the pace.
"That stage was very tiring," admitted Heras.