Josh Tarling, a 22-year-old rider for Netcompany Ineos, secured third place in the first stage of the Vuelta a Espana, held in Monaco. His strong performance came just eight days after his 19-year-old brother, Finlay Tarling, died in a collision with a van during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.
Tarling made the personal decision to participate in the three-week Grand Tour. The opening stage featured a tight and technical course. Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG won the stage by a narrow margin of nine hundredths of a second over fellow Briton Ethan Hayter of Soudal-Quick Step. Tarling finished the stage just four seconds behind Pogacar.