"It is a great honour that a great rider like Roglic equals me" - Roberto Heras "happy" to share Vuelta throne with Primoz Roglic

For almost two decades, Roberto Heras' Vuelta a Espana victories record stood strong. However 2024 is a year when all records fall, and Heras won't spared. Primoz Roglic was only one title away from equaling Heras since his third triumph in 2021, but a crash in 2022 and team tactics in 2023 stood between the Slovenian and a fourth triumph. Until now.

Heras, whose past is tainted with a doping misconduct, doesn't hold grudge against the Slovenian for sharing his spot on the throne. In fact, he admits to MundoDeportivo that he's glad to be tied with such cycling star: "It is a great honour that a great rider like Roglic equals me at the top of the La Vuelta list of winners. It is great that a cyclist like Roglic, with the list of triumphs he has, equals you in the number of victories in La Vuelta."

"Roglic is very good at everything," the Spaniard can't really point out a single strength of the Slovenian rider. "He is a very consistent rider, who usually saves himself well when he has a bad day and is very complete on all stages, in time trials, on climbs... He has already won a Giro and has also been close to winning the Tour de France."

Finally, Heras was asked the odds of Roglic taking it to the next level in 2025 and adding 5th Vuelta title to his palmares: "It depends on who he has next year's rivals. If Pogacar or Vingegaard come in 2025, they will be the favourites, but Roglic is a rider who will definitely be competing if he comes to La Vuelta next year."