Vuelta director hurt

"I am distraught because I appreciated Roberto and now I see him on the list of cheaters. This has caused us great pain. I regret that we can no longer trust him," the director said.

Vuelta runner-up, Russian Rabobank rider, Denis Menchov who should be declared winner of the Vuelta 2006, said he did not know how to apprehend the news of Heras' positive 'B' sample test to EPO.

"My first reaction was that it was a laboratory mistake," Menchov told the Russian media. "Personally I would rather be crowned the Vuelta champion by winning on the road than in a court battle. In any case, it's bad for the image of cycling."

Liberty Seguros sport director Manolo Saiz, said that although he was destroyed by the news, that he would stay behind his rider and said that Heras is innocent.

"He can always count on my support and I am confident that in the near future he can demonstrate his innocence," Saiz told EFE radio. "This is the first time in 18 years that I am confronted with a situation like this. More than anything, I am very sad for the rider."

Saiz said he would call a meeting with the team to discuss their future and the implications of the Heras case. The sport director also criticized the viability of the EPO test and said that his sport was being unfairly attacked.

"When there's bad news like this, it always seems to be cycling, but it's not only here," said Saiz. "I don't want to make an opinion about other sports, I have to look out for what's best for cycling."

The UCI has rejected complaints about its testing procedure and upheld positive dope tests against Heras.

The UCI released a statement late Friday to express its "full satisfaction with the way the procedures relating to this case were carried out and reaffirms its unconditional confidence in the method used to trace EPO."

The UCI criticized the climate of suspicion around Heras' case - damaging to cycling - was unacceptable and said it was an attempt to undermine the credibility of its "most important" anti-doping tool.

"The positive results since its introduction, until the latest case of Roberto Heras, prove without doubt that the battle against the scourge of EPO must be pursued, but above all demonstrate how effective the checks are," said the statement.