Cyclist Josh Tarling to compete in Tour of Spain after brother’s death

What the report says

British cyclist Josh Tarling is expected to line up for the Vuelta a Espana, or Tour of Spain, beginning Saturday, according to Al Jazeera citing a team announcement from Netcompany-Ineos. His selection comes just over a week after the death of his younger brother, Finlay Tarling, in a crash during the Tour of Portugal.

Al Jazeera reported that Finlay, 19, died after a serious incident during the eighth stage of the Portuguese race on August 14. The article said he rode for the UCI Continental team NSN Development Team. It also noted that local broadcaster RTP reported the crash involved a head-on collision with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and not connected to the event.

The team said Josh, a time-trial specialist, would be part of its lineup for the Grand Tour, which runs from August 22 to September 13. Racing director Geraint Thomas said the team supported Tarling’s choice to compete, while his mother, Dawn, also backed the decision in a post referenced by the report.

The development is notable because it shows Tarling returning to top-level racing under difficult personal circumstances. More broadly, it also highlights the risks faced by cyclists both in competition and on public roads, though the specific circumstances of Finlay Tarling’s death were reported by the broadcaster and have not been independently detailed here.