Heras looks seriously at retirement

Three time Vuelta a España winner Roberto Heras has continued to hint at not returning to professional cycling, having now completed his doping ban, following a lack of suitable offers. The Spaniard was sidelined for two years in October 2005 when he tested positive for EPO while en route to claiming a record fourth win at his home Grand Tour.

The former Liberty Seguros rider is believed to have five different offers on the table for 2008, but says he won't return to the sport if he doesn't receive an offer with conditions he needs.

"It is true that I have had offers, five in total, but none met the conditions that I need to return to cycling," he told Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo. "If by the end of the year things do not change, I will opt to retire."

"Money has never been a priority, to race again I wanted several conditions, especially regarding the structure of the team and the calendar," he added. "These conditions were not met by the five teams that have approached me."