Quintana gets revenge on Froome for Vuelta victory

MADRID — Colombia's Nairo Quintana held off Tour de France champion Chris Froome to win the Vuelta a Espana in Sunday's traditional procession around Madrid.

Quintana beat out Froome for the first time in five Grand Tours when both have finished the race by 1min 23sec with another Colombian Esteban Chaves completing the podium.

Denmark's Magnus Cort Nielsen won the 21st stage in a sprint finish for the 104.8km ride that started in Las Rozas on the outskirts of the Spanish capital before a 10-lap circuit through the centre of Madrid.

Victory is Quintana's second in a Grand Tour after the 2014 Giro d'Italia and was celebrated wildly by thousands of Colombian fans on the streets around the finish line.

"This is spectacular, it is a dream come true," said Quintana.

"I have tried so many times to win the Vuelta.

"This morning it was in my head that I was the winner, but I still had to cross the line and until then I couldn't raise my arms (in celebration)."