Joshua Tarling blasted over the twelve-kilometer time trial course during the second stage of the UAE Tour. As many had expected, the 21-year-old British rider from INEOS Grenadiers was by far the fastest. However, he lost his self-confidence and was unsure he would win.
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Before the race, Tarling said he needed a win. He managed to get one, but why did he need it so badly? "I had a lot of bad luck at the end of last season. I often finished second, so I needed a win. I am, therefore, pleased with this victory," he said in the flash interview.
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Tarling in his time trial position
Kwiatkowski got the INEOS ball rolling
Although the Brit did not often finish second in 2024, only once in a time trial during the Critérium du Dauphiné, he did often come up short and miss out on medals, like when he finished fourth in the world time trial championships and fourth in the Olympic time trial. Tarling's last victory was on November 22 last year, almost a year ago.
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"Hopefully, I now have some of my self-confidence back," he says, visibly relieved after such a long period without success. "I went to Teide with the team during the winter, and we have a great mindset as a group. That was also clearly visible yesterday with Kwiatkowski's victory. He got the ball rolling for us," says the INEOS rider.
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Average speed of over 56km/h sounds cool
Tarling was short about the time trial itself. 'It was very windy at the start. "We had a headwind the whole time, and then there was a section with many crosswinds. The first part was really the hardest. It felt like a time trial with two halves," yet the British rider finished with an average of 56.6 km/h. "Yeah, it sounds cool," he says with a laugh.
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How long Tarling can enjoy his leader's jersey is anyone's guess. Tomorrow, the first uphill finish of the program will be held. Jebel Jais, with its 19 km at 5.6%, may seem just a little too tough, although that depends entirely on the course of the race. "Tomorrow will be an important day," Tarling said.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
Huge chainring, huge power 💪
Josh Tarling used a plate you could eat your dinner off and produced almost enough power to cook it in a blistering performance in Stage 2’s individual time trial at the UAE Tour.
📸 Sprint Cycling
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🇦🇪 #UAETour