Josh Tarling will compete in the Vuelta a Espana, which begins Saturday in Monaco, just eight days after his 19-year-old brother, Finlay, died during the Tour of Portugal.
Tarling, 22, was named in the Netcompany INEOS squad for the three-week Grand Tour, the final one of the season. Finlay Tarling died on Friday after being struck by a van during the eighth stage of the Tour of Portugal. Police had stated that spectators waved the van onto the road, believing all cyclists had passed.
Netcompany INEOS waited for Tarling's decision before confirming their eight-man lineup for the Vuelta a Espana. The team's manager expressed confidence in the squad and their support for Josh's participation.
Josh's parents, Michael and Dawn, also offered their full support, stating that their son chose to race in honor of Finlay. "He has chosen to do so in honour of his brother Fin, with the full support of his family, surrounded by a team who have been incredibly supportive of whatever decision he made," they wrote on Instagram.
The parents described the close bond between the brothers, with Finlay being a proud supporter of Josh's cycling career. "So it is right that Josh honours that love and pride by doing what Fin always loved watching him do," they stated, using the hashtag '#ForFin'.
A GoFundMe page, authorized by Dawn and Michael, has been established in Finlay's memory to fund future generations of young Welsh riders. The page has already raised over £70,000.
