Josh Tarling secured a poignant third place in the opening time trial of the Vuelta a Espana, eight days after the death of his brother Finlay, as Tadej Pogacar claimed victory and the leader's red jersey.
Key facts
- Josh Tarling finished third in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana
- The result came eight days after his brother Finlay died in a crash
- Tadej Pogacar won the individual time trial and took the leader's red jersey
- Pogacar completed the 9.4km ride 0.09 seconds faster than Ethan Hayter
- Ethan Hayter of Britain finished second
Britain’s Josh Tarling produced an emotional ride to finish third in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, just eight days after his brother Finlay lost his life in a crash, according to the BBC.
The stage was won by Tadej Pogacar, who stormed to victory in the individual time trial to claim the leader’s red jersey. The overwhelming favourite is aiming to complete a career Grand Tour treble, according to the Guardian.
Pogacar completed the 9.4km ride in Monaco just 0.09 seconds faster than Britain’s Ethan Hayter, who finished second. Tarling rounded out the podium in third.
The result carried added significance given the recent loss in Tarling’s family, coming a week after the death of his brother Finlay, as reported by the Guardian.
Pogacar’s narrow margin over Hayter underlined how tight the opening time trial was, with the leading riders separated by fractions of a second.
With the red jersey secured on day one, Pogacar has laid down an early marker in his bid for the Grand Tour treble as the race continues.
Why it matters
Grand Tours are among cycling's most prestigious events, and the opening stage sets the tone for the general classification battle. Tarling's podium finish so soon after a personal tragedy is a notable human story, while Pogacar's win positions him strongly in his pursuit of a career Grand Tour treble.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana?
Tadej Pogacar won the opening individual time trial and took the leader's red jersey, according to the Guardian.
Where did Josh Tarling finish?
Josh Tarling finished third in the opening stage, eight days after his brother Finlay died in a crash.
How close was the finish between Pogacar and Hayter?
Pogacar completed the 9.4km ride just 0.09 seconds faster than Britain's Ethan Hayter, who finished second.