Froome has mountain to climb now

Chris Froome is set to miss out on Vuelta-Tour double after failing to make a dent in Nairo Quintana’s lead during the last day in the mountains.

Froome (above), who had reduced Quintana’s lead by more than two minutes on Friday, could not escape the Colombian climber on the gruelling stage in the hills behind Benidorm.

Pierre-Roger Latour of France won the 193kilometer stage.

It means Quintana has an 83-second advantage going into today’s largely processional arrival into Madrid, with three-time Tour de France winner Froome condemned to a third runner-up finish.

‘I want to congratulate Froome. He is a great rival,’ said Quintana.

Meanwhile, Steve Cummings looks set to win the Tour of Britain despite having his lead cut from 49 to 26 seconds on the penultimate day.

Cummings’ lead was trimmed by Australian Rohan Dennis, who won the second of two stages around Bristol. The race finishes in London today.

GOLF: Chris Wood’s hopes of a pre-Ryder Cup boost at the KLM Dutch Open failed to materialise as he dropped down the leaderboard with a one-over-par 72. Wood goes into the final round 13 shots behind leader Scott Hend, who had an eagle and six birdIes in a round of 64.

SNOOKER: Ding Junhui won the Six Red World Championship in a black-ball decider against Stuart Bingham.

Ding had led 7-5 in the race to eight frames, but Bingham pressed to the end and said: ‘The one bad shot I played all week cost me the title.

MOTOGP: Jorge Lorenzo starts today’s San Marino Grand Prix on pole for the first time since May after setting a new lap record.

‘It was maybe the best lap of my life,’ said the Yamaha rider after he edged out teammate and home favourite Valentino Rossi.