Investigating police have released new details about the fatal crash that claimed the life of Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling in Portugal. The 19-year-old was riding for the NSN Development Team in the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal on Friday when he collided with a van.
Tarling, the younger brother of British world champion rider Josh Tarling, was riding outside the main peloton when the incident occurred. His death has devastated the cycling world, and his family has been left heartbroken.
GNR spokesperson clarifies circumstances
Lieutenant colonel Carlos Canatário, a spokesperson for the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), appeared on Portuguese television to provide more details and dispel speculation. Speaking on RTP, he said Tarling was riding alone at the back of the pack as a chaser and was descending so fast that a support car could not keep up with him. Only the pace car and two motorcycles were following behind the race.
According to Canatário, Tarling took the inside line in a left-hand turn at high speed, where the van suddenly appeared. The driver had reportedly pulled over to let the cyclists pass and had asked bystanders if it was safe to continue driving.
“After waiting there for a while and seeing that no one else was coming, he asked if he could continue driving,” Canatário explained. He added that the collision occurred because the driver unexpectedly “continued on in the opposite direction,” while Tarling also unexpectedly took the inside turn.
Investigation continues
Canatário said the investigation will continue and “more evidence will be gathered,” but noted that no alcohol or drugs were found in the van driver’s blood. The driver was left in shock after the incident.
Race organisers faced criticism for allowing a vehicle not connected to the event onto the course. In response, race director Ezequiel Mosquera told A Bola that it is “very difficult” to maintain a full-road closure in such a lengthy race, describing the course as a “1,300-kilometre stadium.”
Canatário echoed these comments, saying: “It’s humanly impossible to station a police officer at every entrance to the course. Those officers were stationed at busy spots, but this was a secondary access point. For that reason, there were only signs. What was planned was carried out. There were no deviations from the operational plan.”
