Spain's Roberto Heras won stage 15 of the Tour of Spain from Gijon to the Alto de l'Angliru on Sunday to become the new race leader.

The US Postal rider clocked a time of five hours one minute and one second for the 176.7km stage, one minute 35 seconds ahead of compatriot Joseba Beloki.

The Spaniard, winner of the Tour of Spain in 2000, broke away with six kilometres to go and remained unchallenged to the line in torrential rain.

Italian Francesco Casagrande of Fassa Bortolo was in third place, one minute 40 seconds off the pace.

Previous race leader Oscar Sevilla lost two minutes 50 seconds to Heras on the climb.

Heras now leads the race by 35 seconds over another Spaniard Aitor Gonzalez.

Stage 15 result:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service, 5hrs 01mins 02secs
2. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski, 1 min 35 secs behind
3. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo, 1.41 behind
4. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, 1.54 behind
5. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca, 2.16 behind
6. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport, same
7. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport, same
8. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast, 2.22 behind
9. Fabian Jeker (Swi) Milaneza-MSS, 2.34 behind
10. F�lix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93, 2.42 behind

Overall standings:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service, 55hrs 14mins 08secs
2. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca, 35 secs behind
3. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca, 1 min 8 secs behind
4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski, 1.57 behind
5. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2.16 behind
6. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo, 3.56 behind
7. F�lix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93, 4.05 behind
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport, 4.55 behind
9 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Team Coast, 5.20 behind
10. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, 5.26 behind