Heras auctions Tour of Spain bike for Katrina victims

Spanish cyclist Roberto Heras is hoping to raise 50,000 euros for victims of Hurricane Katrina after putting the bike on which he won a record fourth Tour of Spain up for sale on Internet auctioneer eBay.

"Of course I am going to be a little sorry to lose the bike," said the 31-year-old Liberty Seguros rider, who won the race last month.

"But I'm really happy to be able to do my bit to collaborate with a worthy cause like this."

Heras, a former team-mate of Lance Armstrong's at the US Postal outfit, started the bidding for the partly gold-plated bike at 10,000 euros.

But he was quickly outbid by his team director Manolo Saiz who made an offer of 18,000 euros.

"We chose this cause because it happened during the Tour of Spain and it was in the papers at the same time as Roberto's victory," said Saiz.

"This isn't a replica, it is the actual bike Roberto rode and so it is a real collector's piece. I hope that someone will pay in the region of 50,000 euros for it."

Bidding for the bike closes on October 17.