The father of Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling has issued a statement after the 19-year-old tragically lost his life during a race in Portugal.
Tarling - the younger brother of British world champion rider Josh - was riding for the NSN Development Team in the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal on Friday when he was killed in a collision with a van. The fatal incident, which saw the stage suspended with around 20km remaining, is now being investigated by police.
Tributes have poured in from across the world of cycling and beyond, with Tarling remembered as a "kind, warm and unassuming young man" and a "remarkable talent" by those who knew him.
Father's Statement
Now, his father Michael has released a brief statement in the wake of the horrific tragedy, with TNT commentator Jez Cox reading it out as the penultimate stage of the race resumed on Saturday.
"If it's at all possible, please thank people on our behalf for all the messages of support that we've had, from me, Dawn and Josh," he said.
"Knowing how many lives Fin has touched has been a tremendous help and seeing some of the happy photos of him has been heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time."
Team Withdrawal and Tributes
The race restarted on Saturday with the blessing of the Tarling family, but the Welsh teenager's team announced beforehand that it had decided to withdraw from the event for the remaining stages.
"Following Fin Tarling’s tragic passing, the NSN Development Team has withdrawn from the remaining Volta a Portugal stages," a team statement read.
"With the full support of Fin’s parents, the WorldTour team will race on at Czech Tour and the Arctic Race of Norway.
"We will continue to hold Fin in our hearts as we race in his honor, doing what he loved most. We want to thank everyone in the cycling community and beyond for the incredible support at this difficult time."
Before the Volta a Portugal got back underway, riders observed a minute's silence before setting off wearing black armbands.
A minute's silence was also held before the start of the third stage of the Czech tour, while riders also clapped in tribute to Tarling before the third stage of the Arctic Race of Norway got underway.
Police Investigation
It comes after police investigating the fatal collision released a statement, with Major Tiago Machado of the National Republican Guard telling the media: “We regret to inform you of the accident and extend our condolences.
"We emphasise that we always prioritise maximum safety for cyclists, with a mobile and static safety device deployed throughout the entire stage to prevent accidents. The circumstances of the accident will be investigated, and a resolution will be communicated when available.
"The accident occurred further back in the stage, and efforts will be made to investigate. There was a collision between the cyclist and a light vehicle. We are currently investigating.”
