Former US Postal cyclist, Roberto Heras, now riding for Liberty Seguros, will wear the number 1 dorsal for the 2004 Vuelta a Espana, which will start on the 4th of September with 21 teams. Oscar Freire, Igor Astarloa, Alejandro Valverde, Joseba Beloki, Alexandre Vinokourov and Damiano Cunego are all billed to ride.

Damiano Cunego (Saeco), Giro winner, will wear 151, while Spanish sensation Alejandro Valverde (Kelme) has dorsal 11, and Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile), will wear dorsal 181.

Cunego versus Valverde - now what a contest that might prove...

Valverde after his Stage 9 win at the 2003 Vuelta. Courtesy Unipublic.

We remember Cunego (as well as many other aspiring cyclists)
from the Giro d'Oro in 2002. Visit that photo gallery here.