September 16, 2004 – Liberty’s Roberto Heras took the stage and the Golden Jersey today, outclimbing the field on a tough twelfth stage. Floyd Landis (USPS) could finish only 15th, and now drops to fifth overall.

Stage 12:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 4.19.30
2. Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.34
3. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto 0.53
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 1.27
5. Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros
6. Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria 1.38
7. Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par Telephone
8. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie 2.02
9. Peio Arreitunandia (Spa) Cafes Baque 2.17
10. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 2.28
11. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor
12. Francisco José Lara (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria
13. David Blanco (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 2.35
14. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Saeco 3.06
15. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor
16. Miguel A. M. Perdiguero (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.36
17. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Liberty Seguros
18. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 3.54
19. Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria 5.37

Overall:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 44.50.50
2. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Banesto 0.35
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 0.49
4. Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros 1.12
5. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 2.19
6. Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal Service p/b Berry Floor 2.40
7. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 3.16
8. Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 4.22
9. Angel Gomez (Spa) Paternina-Costa De Almeria 5.07
10. David Blanco (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 6.12