"Is this every rider’s worst fear?" - Dutch pros worry about safety conditions in pro cycling
CyclingSunday, 16 August 2026 at 13:53
The crash and passing of Finlay Tarling has brought the topic of safety in cycling back on the table. Not only is this the case for organizers, but the riders themselves. At the Arctic Race of Norway, Wout Poels and Darren van Bekkum have spoken on their thoughts following the tragedy.
Tarling's death makes Wout Poels think about his own career
“A blow like that hits the team really hard, but this affects all of us,” Poels said in words to De Telegraaf. Tarling was hit by a vehicle head-on during stage 8 of the Volta a Portugal, after it entered the course under yet unconfirmed circumstances. The Welsh rider's passing shook the cycling world and across all teams there were discussions on where the sport is currently at.
“We were talking about it yesterday during dinner. That’s when you realize this has been happening more and more often in recent years. When you see how often it happens, it does cross your mind that 18 years as a pro cyclist is enough," the Dutchman admits. "On the other hand, racing itself is still fun.”
The vehicle reportedly entered the course in the Portuguese race in a secondary road that was signaled but not covered by a security officer. After asking locals in the area, he was told the whole race had gone by, right before Tarling would race by. The collision then happened in a blind corner.
"And don't get me wrong: what happened to Tarling is terrible, isn't it? But two people also died this week during a farmers' protest in the Netherlands, and unfortunately, there are so many incidents where people lose their lives. Every family has its own struggles. And yes, when something like that happens within your own bubble, it hits a little harder.”
Wout Poels worries about the current safety conditions in cycling
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“When you hear something like that, it really hits you," Astana's Darren van Bekkum said to the Dutch news outlet. "Is this every rider’s worst fear? You shouldn’t dwell on it, but it’s sad that every year we hear about a rider who has died. That’s not exactly what makes this sport so much fun. It’s terrible.”
The sport has been seen an increase in deaths during races, with this latest incident bringing yet another factor to be concerned with. In 2025, the Etoile de Bessèges saw several teams withdraw from the race after repeated instances in which vehicles managed to infiltrate the route. Such instances can lead to tragic incidents such as this.
The Norwegian race held a tribute to Tarling at the beginning of the race. "It’s a beautiful gesture to commemorate Finlay Tarling this way. And yes, what’s special about this sport is that the race goes on afterward. Of course, you often hear that the race waits for no one, and in cases like this, that’s actually quite sad.”
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.
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