Three days after the death of 19-year-old Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling, the cycling world is still asking why it happened.
Tarling was racing in the Volta a Portugal with the NSN Development Team. He collided with a non-race vehicle on Friday. He later died from his injuries.
The incident shocked the cycling community. It also renewed concerns about rider safety and road racing.
Investigation underway
The Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) has launched an investigation into the incident. The GNR serves as Portugal’s National Republican Guard and military police.
GNR spokesperson Carlos Canatário explained some details in an interview with RTP. He said Tarling was trying to catch the peloton during stage eight.
The incident happened on a downhill section of the route.
The GNR police escort could not “keep up with Tarling”, according to Canatário.
The “broom” wagon was also behind him. That vehicle marks the end of the race convoy and the rolling road closure.
Meanwhile, a vehicle waited at the roadside further ahead. The driver reportedly asked bystanders if the race had finished.
The driver then entered the road before the broom wagon arrived.
“In that specific location, we know there were no officers present because it was not one of the locations prioritised in the assessment that had been carried out,” Catanario was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“The vehicle was going in the opposite direction to the direction of the race. The cyclist [Tarling] cut across the curve on the left lane – as is natural, as [racing] cyclists do – and that is what caused the cyclist and the vehicle to collide.”
Police said the investigation will continue.
Cycling community mourns
Race organisers neutralised stage eight of the Volta a Portugal. The NSN team then withdrew from the race on Saturday.
The race also paid tribute to Tarling. Organisers changed the leader’s jersey to black.
The peloton also wore black armbands as the race continued through Sunday.
Other events joined the tributes. The Czech Tour and the Arctic Race of Norway also honoured Tarling.
Tarling’s father, Michael, thanked everyone for their support in a social media post on Sunday.
He said the messages had helped the family through the “hardest couple of days of our lives”.
“Hearing how lovingly and fondly Fin was thought of has been a huge help to us.
“I don’t know how we carry on from here, but we’ll figure it out with the support of all our family, friends, and community.
“Whilst our broken hearts will never be fixed, he was not only our son and brother but our best mate. Gentle, loving with the driest sense of humour, we will miss him terribly.”
Fury over rider safety
More than the grief, the incident also triggered fury among the cycling community, opening up conversations and calls over rider safety.
The riders’ union Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) was particularly furious.
“We are speechless and filled with anger after the news of Finlay Tarling’s death at the Tour of Portugal,” the CPA said in a post.
“It is not right that a young athlete’s life should end this way, and we are furious that even today it is still not possible to prevent such serious accidents.”
Union president Adam Hansen told BBC Sport there was also a need for better helmet safety, especially as riders and cycling in general continue to produce record-breaking numbers.
“Bike helmets only need to meet standard testing like all helmets, EU standard CE EN 1078 is only rated for 19.5km/h and I do not believe this is enough for road racing,” he said.
