Welsh cycling club to hold memorial race in honour of Finlay Tarling, with an emotional name on the start list

A south Wales cycling club is dedicating the final round of its 2026 race series to the memory of Finlay Tarling. Proceeds will go towards a fund set up to support young riders after his death. Tarling died after being struck by a car driver during a race in Portugal in August. One name on the event’s start list immediately jumps out, adding to the emotoinal day.

The 19-year-old Welshman died on 14 August after being struck by the driver of a non-race vehicle that had entered the course during stage eight of the Volta a Portugal.

Maindy Flyers Cycling Club, organisers of the Llandow Revival Series, are dedicating the sixth and final round of the circuit-racing league on September 13 to Tarling. Money raised will go directly to the 'For Fin' fund, which has already gathered more than £96,000 for young cyclists in Wales.

Maindy Flyers chair Mike Richards told Cycling Weekly the circuit's owners had waived their usual hire fee so it could be donated to the fund, adding that organisers expect "what should be a very special, if emotional, occasion."

Nine races are scheduled across the day at the 1.4km Llandow circuit near Cardiff, spanning categories from under-eights through to elites, with fans encouraged to bring picnics and make a day of it.

In the weeks since Finlay's death, his parents shared a tribute on Instagram describing the loss of their "best mate," while his older brother, Josh Tarling (Netcompany-Ineos), chose to start the Vuelta a España in his memory, taking third on the opening time trial before abandoning on stage six.

A minute's applause was held for Finlay ahead of stage one of the Tour of Britain Men this week, where his NSN Cycling team is racing.

Among those entered for the Llandow memorial round is Finlay's father, Michael Tarling, who is listed to compete in the Category 3/4 open race. The man who raised two professional cyclists must surely still have some abilities on a critical racing circuit.

Finlay Tarling's funeral will take place on 17 September, in a private ceremony for family and friends.

Entrants for the memorial round can sign up via the 'Fin Tarling Llandow 2026 Round 6' event page on the British Cycling website. Donations to the For Fin fund can be made on the link.