Joshua Tarling is a rider who has evolved a lot in 2024 but in the field of the time-trials he always found himself getting beaten in the main races. Today the tide has been turned, as the British time-trial champion dominated at the UAE Tour, in the discipline that has seen him achieve the most in his still young career.
"I was very unlucky at the end of last season. I often finished second, so I really needed a win. I am therefore very happy with this win," Tarling said in a post-race interview. "Hopefully I have some self-confidence back now".
"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". Although Egan Bernal has crashed and gotten injured once again, it is a good few days for the British team who has needed some big wins and momentum for a long time.
Tarling's triumph in this ITT did not come as a surprise, he was the main favourite, but the pressure was also on his shoulders and with the imminent threat of a very strong UAE that completed the entire podium on this exact same course last year - and of course, Tadej Pogacar's presence - it was no small feat what the 21-year old has done.
He won with 13 seconds over Stefan Bissegger, whilst Tadej Pogacar wash pushed 18 seconds back. "It was very windy at the beginning. Headwind all the time, and then there was a section with a lot of crosswind. The first part was really the hardest. It felt like a time trial with two different halves".
The lead that Tarling carved today may even give him hopes of potentially holding on to the race lead on stage 3 as the riders tackle Jebel Jais, the constant ascents suits the Briton well and after his climbing evolution last season, he could try to hang on with the GC group until the very last kilometers.
Read also
YESSSSS JO⚡H!
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) February 18, 2025
Josh Tarling storms to TT victory on stage 2 and takes the overall lead at #UAETour 🙌
What a performance 👊 pic.twitter.com/wo2uwN4xqO
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
- 36 and Ineos have bought a rider on the downward slope. Bring back Dave and Rob who could manage the team. How are Ineos going to win a grand tour with people past their sell by date.paultryan200214-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment