Joshua Tarling’s Vuelta a España comes to an end after six days
Joshua Tarling has withdrawn from the Vuelta a España during stage 6 on Thursday, with Netcompany-Ineos confirming that the 22-year-old had decided to stop. The team has not given a specific reason for his departure, and there has been no indication of injury or illness.
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Netcompany-Ineos confirmed the decision during the stage, saying: “Josh Tarling’s brave Vuelta has come to an end as he’s decided to stop. We couldn’t be prouder ❤️.”
Tarling’s participation in the Vuelta had remained uncertain until Netcompany-Ineos confirmed its squad just two days before the race began.
His younger brother Finlay died aged 19 following an accident during stage 8 of the Volta a Portugal on 14 August. The family then suffered another bereavement days later with the death of Josh and Finlay’s grandfather, Gerald. A fundraiser established in Finlay’s memory is supporting young Welsh cyclists and has set a target of £80,000.
Tarling ultimately decided to start the Vuelta with the support of his family, explaining before the race that returning to competition offered him a degree of distraction.
“I needed to distract myself,” Tarling said. “Thanks to my family for giving me the blessing to come here and just do another bike race.”
The 22-year-old made an immediate impression in the opening 9.4 kilometre time trial in Monaco, setting the provisional fastest time before Ethan Hayter and Tadej Pogačar went quicker. Tarling finished third, four seconds down, and ended the day in the white jersey.
The following stages proved more difficult. Tarling lost 1:41 on the uphill finish in Manosque, continued through the cancelled stage to Font Romeu and conceded further time in Andorra. On stage 5, he finished in the final group, 10:46 behind stage winner Matthew Brennan.
Speaking before the Vuelta, Netcompany-Ineos director of racing Geraint Thomas had stressed that Tarling was under no pressure to complete the race.
“We’re under no illusions here. It’s a bit of a risk for him and the team, him starting. If he thinks it’s the wrong decision after two days, then he can go home, obviously,” Thomas said on the Watts Occurring podcast.
Thomas added that there was no right or wrong way for Tarling to deal with the circumstances surrounding his participation.
Tarling started the Vuelta as the reigning European time trial champion. His withdrawal brings his race to an end after five stages, in keeping with the freedom Netcompany-Ineos had publicly given him to decide for himself how long he wanted to continue.
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