Cycling: Nairo Quintana pips Richie Porte for title

Colombia’s Nairo Quintana fended off overwhelming favourite Richie Porte of Australia to take a surprise overall win in the Tour of the Basque Country yesterday, writes Alasdair Fotheringham.

The 23-year-old Movistar rider finished second in the final, hilly, 24-kilometre time trial at Beasain, 17 seconds down on world champion Tony Martin, which was enough for Quintana to claim the biggest win of his career.

Paris-Nice winner Porte, victorious on Friday’s mountain stage, was a below-expectations fourth in the time trial, 40 seconds behind German Martin, and had to settle for second overall, 23 seconds adrift of Quintana in the final standings.