British cyclist Finlay Tarling, 19, died after a serious collision during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal on Friday, August 14, with footage and images from the aftermath prompting renewed questions about safety in professional road racing. Tarling, a member of the NSN Development Team, was involved in a collision with a vehicle that was not part of the race near Ponte de Lima. Despite receiving medical attention, he died from his injuries.
His death prompted the NSN Development Team later decided to withdraw from the remainder of the Volta a Portugal following the tragedy. We share in the grief of Finlay Tarling’s family, his team, his friends, and everyone who knew him. It’s not right for a young life to end this way; we are deeply saddened and are praying for him,” CPA posted on X.
“Today is a sad day.
The investigation into the crash is continuing, and further findings are expected to determine how the vehicle entered the race route and whether any safety procedures were breached, BBC reported.
The Cyclists’ Professional Association, the riders’ union, expressed anger following the teenager’s death, while its president, former professional cyclist Adam Hansen, has argued that helmet standards need to improve, he told BBC.
