"Time-trialling is easier!" - Joshua Tarling makes Classics breakthrough with brave 6th at Dwars Door Vlaanderen

On a dramatic day at Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2024, in and amongst the crashes there was a notable, breakthrough performance from INEOS Grenadiers' Joshua Tarling.

The time-trial powerhouse was one of the heaviest men on the startlist but through sheer grit and determination, the Welsh starlet refused to give in, eventually coming home in 6th place. "I was just hanging on at the end," he admits in his post-race interview. "I tried my best but sixth was probably the highest I was going to get."

As a number of big favourites crashed out, opportunity knocked for the likes of Tarling, with Matteo Jorgenson eventually taking the win ahead of Jonas Abrahamsen and Stefan Kung. "I got lucky with the timing and lucky Ben Turner and Magnus Sheffield were in the group behind," Tarling continues. "They gave me the opportunity to go and I'm super happy."

"Time-trialling is easier!" concludes the European champion against the clock with a laugh. "It would be nice to do all this effort and get on the podium so yeah, in three of four days I'll be excited for Flanders."