Liberty Seguros unveiled its lineup for the season Friday — without disgraced three-time Vuelta a España champion Roberto Heras, but with new team leader Alexandre Vinokourov.

The Kazakh moved to the Spanish outfit from Germany's T-Mobile for the 2006 season after having spent several years overshadowed by perennial Tour de France contender Jan Ullrich.

"Vinokourov arrives at Liberty with the ambition to lead the dream of the whole team, to climb the top step of the podium in Paris, and we are working towards that goal from day one," said Liberty manager Manolo Saiz.

"Last season is finished for us now with the terrible shock produced by the Heras affair, two months after the end of the Vuelta. The winter was very tough for the team but I think Liberty has regrouped and, more importantly, we have reconfirmed our commitment to a clean sport."

Heras won a fourth Vuelta last September but was later stripped of his record-breaking title after testing positive for the banned blood-booster EPO after the penultimate time-trial stage.

Liberty Seguros for 2006:
Carlos Abellan (Sp)
Dariusz Baranowski (Pol)
Carlos Barredo (Sp)
Joseba Beloki, (Sp)
Giampaolo Caruso (I)
Alberto Contador (Sp)
Allan Davis (Aus)
Koen de Kort (Ned)
David Etxebarria (Sp)
Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz)
Jörg Jaksche (G)
Aaron Kemps (Aus)
Daniel Navarro (Sp)
Isidro Nozal (Sp)
Aitor Osa (Sp)
Unai Osa (Sp)
Sergio Paulinho (Por)
Javier Abeja (Sp)
José Rojas (Sp)
Eladio Sanchez (Sp)
Luis Sanchez (Sp)
Ivan Santos (Sp)
Michele Scarponi (I)
Antonio Redondo (Sp)
Marcos Serrano (Sp)
Angel Vicioso (Sp)
Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)
Sergey Yakovlev (Kaz)
Manager: Manolo Saiz

Steegmans wins l’Algarve stage; Hunt takes lead
Gert Steegmans (Davitamon-Lotto) took the third stage of the Tour de l'Algarve on Friday.

The Belgian won the 198km run between Castro Marim and Faro ahead of Britain’s Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com), who took the leader’s yellow jersey from teammate Marco Zanotti. Swiss Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) crossed third.

Saturday’s fourth stage is a 174.5km leg from Lagoa to Portimao.

Stage
1. Gert Steegmans (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 198km in 4:55:34 (40,194 km/h)
2. Jeremy Hunt (GB), Unibet.com. same time
3. Markus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
4. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Cofidis, s.t.
5. Kurt Hovelynck (B), Chocolade Jacques, s.t.

Overall (after three stages)
1. Jeremy Hunt (GB), Unibet.com, 12:59:35
2. Gert Steegmans (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:02
3. Hugo Sabido (Por), Barloworld, at 0:03
4. Markus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, at 0:04
5. Pedro Lopes (Por), La Aluminios, at 0:08