Geraint Thomas opens up on Josh Tarling’s Vuelta decision as Ineos allow early exit

Netcompany-Ineos confirmed Tarling in their eight rider Vuelta squad on Thursday, just over a week after Finlay died following a collision with a van during the Volta a Portugal.

At the time, Thomas made clear that the decision belonged to Tarling and that the entire team stood behind him.

“It also goes without saying that, as a Team, we all fully support Josh in his decision to take part in the race,” the Netcompany-Ineos director of racing said when announcing the squad.

Speaking on the Watts Occurring podcast, Thomas offered further insight into Tarling’s decision and the support Netcompany Ineos will provide throughout the Vuelta.

Thomas said Tarling was dealing with the situation in his own way and remained determined to race.

“He’s a tough kid, and he’s been down there in Portugal. He’s been over to Wales, but he’s still super keen to race the Vuelta.”

According to Thomas, that position has remained consistent since the days immediately following Finlay’s death.

“It wasn’t a decision taken lightly by him or the team, really, but he’s been adamant he wants to do it for the past week or so,” he said.

“I think he just wants to get back to sort of the day job.”

Thomas stressed that he was paraphrasing rather than directly quoting Tarling, but said the desire was to return to the familiar surroundings of his team and racing.

“He doesn’t want to be sat around doing nothing, basically. Not quoting him, but in those sort of words. He wants to just get back with the team, worry about bike racing, just think about that, get with the boys on the bus.”

Tarling’s parents, Dawn and Michael, have also spoken publicly about their eldest son’s decision to race.

In a message shared ahead of the Vuelta, they said Josh had chosen to start in honour of Finlay and had the full backing of his family.

“On Saturday Joshua will be riding the Vuelta. 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.”

They also described the exceptionally close relationship between the brothers.

“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.”

Finlay, they added, had been one of his brother’s biggest supporters.

“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.”

Netcompany-Ineos are also making support available away from the racing itself. Thomas revealed that psychiatrist Steve Peters, who has worked extensively within British cycling, has spoken with Tarling and remains available to him.

“We’re just going to support him with that,” Thomas said. “We’ll do everything we can to support him in every way possible.”

That support also means Tarling is under no obligation to complete the Vuelta if racing no longer feels like the right decision.

Thomas acknowledged that nobody, including Tarling or the team, can know exactly how the coming days will feel.

“We’re under no illusions here,” he said. “It’s a bit of a risk for him and the team, him starting.”

“if he thinks it’s the wrong decision after 2 days, then he can go home, obviously. You know, it’s not like team’s gonna support him and whatever.”

For now, Tarling is expected to line up for Saturday’s opening time trial in Monaco, a discipline in which he would ordinarily rank among the leading contenders.

Thomas said that before the events of the past week, Tarling would have been considered “one of, if not the favourite” for the opening test. What comes next, however, will be entirely dictated by how Tarling feels.

“There’s no right and wrong, is there?” Thomas said. “Nobody knows how they’re going to react when something like that happens.”

“So it’s just supporting him as best we can and off we go.”