While the Tour de France boasts a seven-time winner and the Giro d’Italia has a handful of five-time winners (Binda, Coppi and Merckx), no one had won more than three Vueltas until this year.

On Sunday, Roberto Heras made history when he became the first to win a fourth Vuelta crown after finishing safely in the bunch in the final sprint.

Despite crashing in the second week and finding himself up against a stubborn Denis Menchov, the 31-year-old Spanish rider took his fourth victory with one dramatic attack in last Sunday’s stage up the brutal Pajares climb in northern Spain.

To add a nice finishing touch, he even padded that lead to 4:36 after a remarkable time trial performance Saturday.

Unlike the previous four editions of the Vuelta - which came down to a nail-biting final weekend with the race still undecided - this year’s Vuelta has been on cruise control since Heras recaptured the lead last Sunday.

As is the custom with grand tour victors, a press conference was held Saturday evening so the European reporters would have some fresh quotes for the Sunday editions. Here are excerpts from the press conference with Vuelta winner Heras:

Question: Was this your easiest Vuelta?RH: No, but since the stage to Parajes, it’s been the most tranquil thanks to the work of my team because there remained some complicated stages. Overall, it’s been the most relaxing final week of the four Vueltas.

Q: Were you surprised by your result in the time trial?RH: It wasn’t a course for a climber, but in the last week of a grand tour, it’s the strength that counts. A specialist like Rubén Plaza ended up winning, but I am satisfied, above all looking to the future.

Q: Are you becoming a more balanced racer?RH: It’s true that since joining Liberty Seguros-Würth I’ve improved a lot in the time trial.

Q: Is this your best Vuelta?RH: I felt very strong this year, even though when Menchov finished the stage to Covadonga, I had serious doubts about my chances to win because he was looking strong enough. I also knew that the stage to Pajares was the ‘queen’s stage’ and I had confidence in my strength. I think this is the Vuelta where I’ve felt the best of the four.

Q: Have you thoughts about winning No. 5?RH: Not yet. This winter we’ll decide if we’ll look for other objectives or not.

Q: Would you like to race the Giro?RH: We’ve talked about it a few times. I’ve raced it once and I liked it a lot. It’s a beautiful race, it has demanding mountains and the time trials aren’t excessively long. I have a good memory of the race.

Q: Do you believe this Vuelta has improved the image of the race?RH: Yes, because it wasn’t just a fight between the Spanish riders, Menchov was there. Overall, the race had a very high level and the stage to Pajares is something we don’t see everyday.

Q: Next year Vinokourov will be part of the team, what do you think?RH: He’s another teammate and he will be very welcome to the team. He’ll be that: a teammate and we’ll try to make it the best possible for him.

Q: What do you take away from this Vuelta?RH: I remember the image of the team waiting for me after the climb at Colladella. All the team will always be part of my memory.

Q: What was your worst moment of the race?RH: Sincerely, perhaps after the stage to Covadonga, because that’s when we felt less optimistic about the chances to win. Even though I felt good, and I hadn’t had a bad moment, not even the night after I had crashed.

Q: With this win, will the profile of Heras improve?RH: What I would like to see is cycling continue on the up and up, that the fans get hooked on this spectacle.

Q: After four Vuelta victories, do you believe your merits have been recognized?RH: I can’t measure this level of recognition. What I have to do is do my job well and this is what the fans have to merit or not.

Q: Does this Vuelta make up for the Tour?RH: It doesn’t have to make up for anything. There are times when you win and times you don’t. I didn’t come here to make up for the disappointment at the Tour, but to achieve another distinct objective.

Q: To whom do you dedicate this victory?RH: To the entire team, my family and to everyone in the world who have believed in me.

Q: Do you still want to win a grand tour out of Spain?RH: The Vuelta is the race that’s given me the most, but it’s true I’d like to win another grand tour.