Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome's attacks come up short as Nairo Quintana all but seals Vuelta win

Froome had started the day with high hopes of overhauling Quintana after pulling over two minutes back on his rival during the individual time trial stage on Friday

Movistar's Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana celebrates on the podium retaining the red jersey after 20th stage of the 71st edition of 'La Vuelta' Tour of Spain (Getty)

Chris Froome failed in his bid to eat into Nairo Qiuintana's overall lead as the Colombian effectively claimed race victory on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday.

Despite a number of challenges on the Aito de Aitana, Team Sky's Froome was not able to distance himself from his rival, leaving the Movistar man's one minute and 23 second lead intact with just Sunday's processional stage into Madrid to come.

Frenchman Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) won the stage from a breakaway inspired by Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), who succeeded in wresting overall third place from home favourite Alberto Contador and denying the Tinkoff team a podium place in their final Grand Tour.

Chaves' British team-mate Simon Yates secured sixth place overall.

Froome had started the day with high hopes of overhauling Quintana after pulling over two minutes back on his rival during the individual time trial stage on Friday.

But Quintana matched the Briton's best efforts to all but end his quest to become the first man to win both the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same year since the great Bernard Hinault in 1978.

The pair rode to the summit almost together and as Quintana sprinted clear at the last, Froome took his hands off the handlebars to applaud his rival.

Chaves proved successful in his bid to overhaul Contador while ahead of him another Colombian, 22-year-old Darwin Atapuma (BMC Racing) duelled with Latour for the stage win.

Ultimately it was the Frenchman who prevailed in an exciting sprint finish, with Italian Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) taking third on the day.

PA.