Lance Armstrong and the US Postal team have taken over that mantle and each year the Spanish press do their best to hail a new Indurain.

Recently it has been Francisco Mancebo, best young rider in 1990 and then 13th last year, a result which was below expectation.

Now 26, Mancebo will be expected to at least climb back into the top 10 in this year's Tour.

Juan Miguel Mercado is another potential contender, having climbed into the top 10 in the world rankings at stages this season.

Mercado has already proved he has the ability to last the distance of cycling's more arduous races, when he finished in fifth in last year's Tour of Spain - La Vuelta.

Both he and Mancebo clearly lack the experience of Indurain but he rode five Tours before winning it.

Both Jose Maria Jimenez and Denis Menchov should offer the pair valuable support in the mountains.

It remains to be seen what will happen with Jimenez, mountains prize winner La Veulta 2001.

He has rarely competed this season and is receiving psychiatric treatment for depression.