"Even if I go well, I think about what could have done better" - 'Perfectionist' Joshua Tarling determined to make 2025 his best year yet

Despite being just 20 years old and entering his third season amongst the elite in 2025, Joshua Tarling has quickly managed to make a name for himself as one of the strongest time trialists and brightest young talents in the entire peloton.

Heading into 2025 though, the restless and perfectionist INEOS Grenadiers prospects is determined to add to his palmares' current tally of six victories. “I hope my peak will start early, next year maybe,” he says in conversation with Rouleur, eager to stand on the top step of the podium more often, after a year of close calls at the Olympic Games, the World Championships and on his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana. “Every race, even if I go well in, I think about what could have done better, what could have been lighter or whatever.”

With Tarling's younger brother Finlay joining Israel - Premier Tech next season, both brothers also owe a massive debt to the support of their parents. “I took it for granted, every weekend racing. It’s only when you leave that, go to Andorra [where he now lives] for the first time and you realise you have to pay for everything. There’s not a day that you don’t leave the house and pay for something," the former European time trial champion explains. "It’s not even bike stuff. You need a big enough car to get to races, entries and other stuff. At the time, I didn't appreciate it enough, but now I do. I was doing cyclocross four years ago, and even then had two pretty identical bikes. Now you need three bikes and 10 sets of wheels. I wouldn’t know how and where to start.”

A potential Giro d'Italia debut has been rumoured for the Welsh prospect in 2025 and qith Tarling also having ambitions in the Classics, it could turn out to be a season-defining season for one of the INEOS Grenadiers' great hopes for the future.

He isn't getting too ahead of himself just yet though. “If you look too far ahead, you end up worrying about what you’re going to do in 2028,” Tarling concludes. “The year is so long, there is so much going on. Every race is a different goal and I want to be selected for different races. I’ll take it season by season, pick something, get in a position to win, and the team will back it and help me.”