 Here his results included a second place in 1995 Vuelta a Asturias, and in 1996 he signed a contract with Spanish team .Cuesta would have to wait until 1998 before he won his first race, the overall victory in the stage race Tour of the Basque Country.In securing the stage race win, he proved his talent as both a climber and time trialist, though not on the level of the Grand Tours.