Carlos Sastre played the supporting role for years before finally taking the lead part that enabled him to win the Tour de France.
When CSC team manager Bjarne Riis announced that the 33-year-old climber -- a man with 17 major tour's behind him but few podium places -- would be his leader, experts frowned.
Yet Sastre was up to the job, seeing off his rivals and team mates one by one.
Overall, it was a great year for Spain on the Tour, with Oscar Freire also becoming the first Spaniard to take the green jersey for the best sprinter.
In the last seven weeks, Spain have also won the Euro 2008 football tournament and Rafael Nadal has clinched a fourth French Open tennis title and his maiden Wimbledon crown.
Text: Reuters | Photographs: Getty Images
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