A fund to help young riders has been created in honour of Finlay Tarling, after he died on stage eight of the Volta a Portugal on Friday 14 August.
The 19-year-old Welsh rider, and younger brother of Netcompany Ineos cyclist Josh Tarling, was in a collision with a non-race vehicle and died as a result of his injuries. The vehicle was driven by a member of the public who had got onto the race course and was driving towards the peloton.
The fund was launched on GoFundMe by Finlay Tarling’s agent, Jamie Barlow, over the weekend. It has already raised more than £40,000.
“This fund can hopefully serve as part of a legacy project providing an opportunity to help future generations of young Welsh riders discover the freedom and confidence that a bike can give a child,” the GoFundMe page reads.
The fundraiser says: “Finlay was an exceptionally talented cyclist with a bright future ahead of him, as well as a beloved son, brother, grandson, loyal friend and teammate, and an outstanding young man in every respect.
“Fin’s happy place was on his bike – whether on the track, at a local club 10, on the West Wales home roads, or racing internationally.
“His smile was known far and wide and always lifted those around him.”
Tarling’s death prompted his NSN Development Team to withdraw from the Volta a Portugal on Saturday. The NSN Pro Cycling WorldTour team continued to race at the Czech Tour and the Arctic Race of Norway.
The team said: “We will continue to hold Fin in our hearts as we race in his honor, doing what he loved most.
“We want to thank everyone in the cycling community and beyond for the incredible support at this difficult time.”
The riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA), expressed its fury over Tarling’s death.
“We are speechless and filled with anger after the news of Finlay Tarling’s death at the Tour of Portugal,” the union wrote on social media.
“It is not right that a young athlete’s life should end this way, and we are furious that even today it is still not possible to prevent such serious accidents.
“We share in the grief of his family, friends, team, and everyone who knew Finlay. Rest in peace, young rider; we pray for you, and we will carry you in our hearts.”
Finlay’s parents, Michael and Dawn Tarling, shared a message of thanks for the support they have received during “the hardest couple of days of our lives”.
“Whilst our broken hearts will never be fixed, he was not only our son and brother but our best mate. Gentle, loving with the driest sense of humour we will miss him terribly.
“Whilst he was only 19 his short life was packed full of wonderful experiences and achievements and we couldn’t be prouder of him.
“If you’re heading out on your bike in the next few days give him a thought as you clip in.”
