Tarling third in Vuelta opener after brother’s deathImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tarling has won a stage of the Giro d’Italia and the European time trial title. ByMatt WarwickBBC Sport senior journalistPublished56 minutes agoBritain’s Josh Tarling finished third in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana – just eight days after his brother Finlay lost his life in a crash.The 22-year-old Netcompany Ineos rider decided himself to take part in the three-week Grand Tour and was rewarded with a strong performance on a tight and technical course around the principality of Monaco.Fin, 19, died in a high-speed collision with a van which had strayed on to the road during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal last Friday.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Tadej Pogacar, the overwhelming favourite for overall victory, won the stage by just nine hundredths of a second from another Briton, Ethan Hayter of Soudal-Quick Step.
Tarling was just four seconds down on five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, who hugged the Welshman before the podium presentation to show his support.
Fellow Welshman and Netcompany Ineos’ racing director Geraint Thomas mentioned afterwards: “It’s been great to have him here – he was really keen to ride and wanted to get back to the day job and find comfort in the process and be around the team to be a normal as possible.
“It’s great to have him here, it’s been unimaginable what he’s gone through this last week or so.
“To put in a performance like that at the end of the week or so is just fantastic and shows the class of him as person and an athlete, so couldn’t be prouder.
“I think the course suited him technically – he’s one of the best and yesterday was probably the first time he’s ridden a bike properly in a while, so to still put that in is insane, really.
“We’ll just continue to be normal around him now and support as best we can.”
