Fabio Aru safely navigated the final stage at the Vuelta a Espana to secure overall victory.

Overnight leader, Tom Dumoulin, who had looked strong all race, ran out of steam in the penultimate climb of the day as he was left isolated against the attacks of Fabia Aru (Astana), who received excellent support from his teammate Mikel Landa.

Lotto-Soudal’s Greipel took the day’s stage honours as the 33-year-old German won a sprint finish by a narrow margin from Team Sky’s Elia Viviani.

“On paper it seems easy but the reality is that it was very tough”, added the 2006 Tour of Spain victor.

After a series of punishing mountain top finishes, Aru and Rodriguez expressed their concern at not having built up a big enough gap over time trial specialist Tom Dumoulin. Now it’s gone from zero to one-hundred and we can go home with an fantastic feeling. “But if he had been in the race, we’d both have raced to get a top result because we’re both professionals”.

“It really means a lot”, said Degenkolb.

Froome bravely battled on till the end of the stage, but his attempt to become only the third man to win the Tour and the Vuelta in the same year was ended.

Dumoulin did manage to visit the podium in Madrid in the end – to pick up the prize for the most combative rider in the race.

“He worked so hard for me in the last three weeks and he made efforts that maybe other sprinters wouldn’t do”, he said.

Astana’s rider Fabio Aru from Italy, left, rides past the City Hall at the end of the 98.8km (61.40 miles) 21st and last stage of the Spanish La Vuelta cycling tour that started in Alcala de Henares and finished in Madrid, Spain, Sunday September 13, 2015.

Aru finished in a group that included Spanish veteran Joaquim Rodriguez, who rose to second place in the general classification, 1:17 behind Aru.

He is the youngest victor of the Vuelta since Spaniard Melchor Mauri won in 1991.

Aru said after Saturday’s stage he would like to ride the 2016 Tour de France but first would meet with Astana to decide on the year’s objectives.

Aru’s came into contention only after team leader Vincenzo Nibali was expelled from the race for holding onto a team auto while trying to make up lost time during the second stage.