ALTO DE AITANA , Spain (AP) Nairo Quintana is poised to win the Spanish Vuelta after protecting his lead over Chris Froome in Saturday's grueling penultimate stage in the southern mountains.
Barring an accident or incident on the final stage's traditional arrival in Madrid, Movistar's Colombian climber will add the Vuelta to his Giro d'Italia title won in 2014.
Pierre-Roger Latour of France edged Darwin Atapuma to win the 193.2-kilometer (120-mile) stage traversing three category-two ascents from Benidorm to a special-category finish at the Alto de Aitana summit.
Froome had reduced Quintana's lead by more than two minutes by winning Friday's time trial to move to within 1:21.
But Quintana kept Froome in check throughout Saturday's ride, responding to his repeated attacks on the final 21-kilometer (13-mile) climb before passing him just before the finish.
