Joshua Tarling wins Renewi Tour time-trial in dominant fashion to move into overall lead of the race

Joshua Tarling has continued to prove himself as a star of the present, not just the future. The INEOS Grenadiers' British national time-trial champion backed up his bronze at the Glasgow World Championships with a dominant victory on stage 2 of the 2023 Renewi Tour, taking the leader's jersey.

A key day for the overall classification. Stage 2 of the Renewi Tour is only 13.6 kilometres long however it is an individual time-trial, fully pan-flat within Sluis. There is not too much to mention over this day, technically speaking it's not the simplest of time-trials, it features in it's middle a few possibly complicated corners when riders are taking risks to fight for every single second.

Daan Hoole had one of the quickest early times, spending some of the early portion of the stage in the hot seat before Tim Wellens dethroned him with his effort of 15:19.

It wasn't long before Wellens himself saw his time bettered. Bronze medalist from the Glasgow World Championships time-trial, Joshua Tarling set a blistering 15:05, 14 seconds quicker than the Belgian.

In truth, no one was really getting that close to the 19-year-old Welshman. Jasper Stuyven, Florian Vermeersch and Kasper Asgreen coming closest, all around 20 seconds behind.

Matej Mohoric gave himself a platform for a GC charge, finishing 26 seconds down on Tarling.

The last man down the start ramp was Jasper Philipsen, when the Belgian was unable to challenge the teenager in the hot seat, Tarling's victory was confirmed as was his position as the new overall leader of the race.