Spain's Roberto Heras gave his Tour de France chances a big lift by winning the Tour of Catalunya on Sunday.

The US Postal rider shadowed every move made by his main rivals throughout the 115.9km final stage to claim his first race victory since the Tour of Spain two years ago.

Aitor Garmendia finished second overall, 31 seconds behind Heras, with Luiz Perez third to complete an all-Spanish podium.

The final stage was won by Dimitriy Fofonov of Kazakhstan, who outpaced Spain's Javier Pascual Rodriguez in the sprint for the line.

Heras, who came second to Manuel Beltran in the 1999 Tour of Catalunya, was delighted with the win.

He said: "I am really happy because victories seemed to be eluding me and I needed to win ahead of the Tour de France."

Paco Lara was the first to make a bid for victory as he attacked the final climb up to the Alt del Tibidabo on the outskirts of Barcelona, but he was soon caught by the chasing pack.

But it was Fofonov who timed his final attack to perfection and he swept past Rodriguez in the final sprint.

Final stage result:

1. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kazakhstan) Cofidis 2 hours 44 minutes 12 seconds
2. Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spain) iBanesto.com
3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lithuania) Lampre-Daikin
4. Benjamin Noval (Spain) Relax-Fuenlabrada
5. Fernardo Escartin (Spain) Team Coast
6. Jose Antonio Garrido (Spain) Jazztel
7. Inigo Landaluze (Spain) Euskaltel-Euskadi
8. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com
9. Leonardo Piepoli (Italy) iBanesto.com
10. Roberto Heras (Spain) US Postal all same time

Final overall standings:

1. Roberto Heras (Spain) US Postal 17 hours 27 minutes 20 seconds
2. Aitor Garmendia (Spain) Team Coast 31 seconds behind
3. Luis Perez (Spain) Team Coast 44
4. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spain) ONCE 51
5. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Team Coast 1:00
6. Leonardo Piepoli (Italy) iBanesto.com 1:04
7. David Plaza (Spain) Team Coast 1:38
8. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com 1:47
9. Benjamin Noval (Spain) Relax-Fuenlabrada 1:48
10. Jose Antonio Garrido (Spain) Jazztel 1:51