Ineos’ Tarling to make Grand Tour debut in Spain

Welsh rider Josh Tarling will make his Grand Tour debut in September’s Vuelta a Espana.

Tarling has been named in a youthful Ineos Grenadiers squad for the three-week Spanish race and will be among the favourites for the opening-day time trial.

The 20-year-old from Aberystwyth is the current European time trial champion and narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Tarling finished fourth in Paris, 2.16 seconds adrift of third place, as he just failed to make the podium after suffering a puncture at the start of the race.

“There is a big opportunity for us to take the leader’s jersey on stage one with Josh,” said Ineos performance director Scott Drawer.

“He demonstrated yet again at the Paris Olympics just how strong he is in the TT discipline.”

The final stage of this year’s Vuelta will also be an individual race against the clock, so could provide another opportunity for Tarling to pick up a stage win in his first Grand Tour.

Tarling will support Carlos Rodriguez and Thymen Arensman in their roles as joint leaders for Ineos.

Dutchman Arensman, 24, will be riding his fifth consecutive Vuelta, having taken sixth place at this year’s Giro d’Italia while supporting Welsh former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

Spaniard Rodriguez, 23, finished seventh in this year’s Tour de France, despite battling illness.

“After the Tour I took some days off to recover and then I started training little by little to try to maintain my shape,” said Rodriguez.

“I think the body is already recovered and I’m starting to feel more like myself after being ill for some time.

“We’re going into this with a strong team, and we’ll fight to get the best result possible both in GC and in the stages.”

Tarling joined Ineos in 2022 and signed a three-year contract extension in July.

Earlier this season he won the opening stage of the four-day O Gran Camino stage race in Spain.