“A great way to finish the season” – Joshua Tarling back to his best with convincing Chrono des Nations victory

After a struggle for consistent form this year, Joshua Tarling closed his 2025 campaign with a performance of reassurance and authority at the Chrono des Nations, storming to victory ahead of Jay Vine and Stefan Kung to underline once again why he is regarded as one of cycling’s top time trial specialists.

The Brit stopped the clock in 51 minutes and 12 seconds, averaging 52.6 km/h over the 45-kilometre course around Les Herbiers. It was his third win of the season, following earlier triumphs in the UAE Tour and Giro d’Italia time trials, and came after what he himself admitted had been “a difficult few months”.

“I’m really, really happy,” Tarling said after the finish. “It’s a great way to finish the season. Everything went exactly as we’d hoped. I wasn’t sure what shape I was in because I didn’t feel great at the European Championships, but it was a nice surprise to see the result today. To have my name on the honours list of this race, alongside so many great riders, feels really special.”

From the first time check, the INEOS Grenadiers rider was in command. He led through every intermediate split, with only Vine and Mikkel Bjerg managing to stay within a minute of his pace. By the second checkpoint, Tarling’s advantage had already stretched beyond 40 seconds — a gap he maintained despite deteriorating conditions in the closing kilometres.

The win brought to an end Stefan Kung’s reign at the Chrono des Nations and reaffirmed Tarling’s position among the discipline’s elite. The 21-year-old has now added his name for the second time, to a roll of honour that includes Tony Martin, Filippo Ganna, and Remco Evenepoel, while also becoming the youngest rider ever to win the event twice.

Tarling’s victory also marked a timely return to form after a rare off-day at the European Championships, where he finished outside the medals and later admitted to feeling below par. In Les Herbiers, however, there were no signs of fatigue or uncertainty — just the same smooth, powerful rhythm that has defined his meteoric rise since turning professional.

“It’s a great way to end the year,” Tarling said. “After the summer I wasn’t sure how the last races would go, but the sensations were good and the team helped me to prepare perfectly. It’s been a long season, but I’m proud of what we achieved.”

At just 21, Tarling already boasts time trial victories in WorldTour races, Grand Tours, and now a second Chrono des Nations crown — achievements that place him firmly among Britain’s next generation of major stage race contenders.

As he signed off with another commanding win in France, Tarling’s message was clear: the early struggles of 2025 are behind him — and the future looks faster than ever.