Josh Tarling admitted his impressive Vuelta a España opening stage performance meant little to him following the death of his brother and fellow professional cyclist Fin Tarling. The ride came just days after Fin, 19, died in a high-speed collision with a van during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal last Friday. The vehicle had strayed onto the road ahead of the incident, believing the cyclists had already passed.
Racing through grief
Tarling decided to compete in the Vuelta despite the tragic news, in a bid to keep his head busy while he mourns. The 22-year-old Netcompany Ineos rider placed himself on the start line for the three-week Grand Tour and produced an impressive opening day performance.
The Welshman forced his way into first place with an outstanding ride, before watching on as Ethan Hayter and then Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar surpassed him by the narrowest of margins. He finished just four seconds short of Pogacar's winning time.
'Not a lot'
Following last week's devastating news, the result meant little for Tarling, who received a hug from Pogacar on the podium at the end of the first stage. Asked what the outing meant to him, Tarling 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."
Geraint Thomas's praise
Legendary Welsh cyclist and Netcompany Ineos racing director Geraint Thomas said he couldn't be prouder of Tarling. Thomas described Tarling's grief as 'unimaginable', and said the team would try to offer some normality to support him over the next three weeks.
"For a start, it's just great to have him here," Thomas told TNT Sport. "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 backing
Tarling's presence in Ineos' squad was backed 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."
