Josh Tarling admitted his remarkable Vuelta a Espana opening stage performance meant very little to him following the heartbreaking loss of his brother and fellow professional cyclist Fin Tarling. The showing came just days after Fin's tragic death during the Volta a Portugal last week.
Brother's death at Volta a Portugal
Fin, 19, died in a high-speed collision with a van during the eighth stage of the race last Friday. The vehicle had veered onto the road ahead of the incident, with the driver believing the cyclists had already passed.
His brother chose to compete in La Vuelta despite the devastating news, in an effort to keep his mind occupied while grieving. The 22-year-old Netcompany Ineos rider took his place on the start line for the three-week Grand Tour and delivered a stunning opening day display.
Close finish on opening stage
The rider stormed into the lead with an exceptional performance, before watching helplessly as Ethan Hayter and then Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar pipped him by the slimmest of margins. The Welshman finished just four seconds behind Pogacar's winning time.
Yet in the wake of last week's crushing news, the result held little significance for Josh Tarling, who received a hug from Pogacar on the podium at the conclusion of the opening stage.
Rider's admission and team support
When asked what the ride meant to him, he told Eurosport: "Not a lot. No, I'm happy with it. And I'm happy I could try and get my head busy with other stuff. So yeah, obviously I'm happy and I'm thankful for the team and everything, to let me come and let me give it a good crack."
Legendary Welsh cyclist and Netcompany Ineos' racing director Geraint Thomas said he couldn't be prouder of Josh Tarling. Thomas described his grief as 'unimaginable', and said that the squad would endeavour to provide some sense of normality to help support him throughout the next three weeks.
"For a start, it's just great to have him here," Thomas told TNT Sports. "You know, he was really keen to ride, he just wanted to get back to the day job, so to speak, and find comfort in the process and being around the team and everything being as normal as possible. So we fully backed him with that and it's great to have him here.
"Obviously, it's been unimaginable what he's gone through the last week or so. But to put in a performance like that at the end of the week he's had is just fantastic, really, it just shows the class of him as an athlete and as a person. Couldn't be prouder.
"I think the course suited him. Technically, he's one of the best and I think yesterday was probably the first time he's ridden a bike properly in a while, so to still put that in? It's insane, really. We'll just continue to be normal around him and support him as best we can. It's the start of hopefully a great trip for these eight boys on the bus."
Family support for Vuelta participation
Josh Tarling's participation in Ineos' line-up was supported by his family. "On Saturday Joshua will be riding the Vuelta," posted his mother Dawn on Instagram. "He has chosen to do so in honour of his brother Fin, with the full support of his family, surrounded by a team who have been incredibly supportive of whatever decision he made.
"I could not have wished for two boys who were closer growing up and into adulthood we have watched with pride as Joshua has been the most loving and supportive big brother to Fin. Following this devastating news he has been an incredible strength for us all.
"Finlay was so incredibly proud of his big brother, and would be watching nose to the tv and shouting as he competed. So it is right that Josh honours that love and pride by doing what Fin always loved watching him do."
