Josh Tarling thriving in Ineos Grenadiers' new race strategy
British rider hits the Classics with aims of major success ahead of likely Giro d’Italia debut
Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) aims to bring his strong start to the season into the cobbled Classics, starting with today’s E3 Saxo Classic.
The 21-year-old was in high spirits when he paused to speak exclusively with us at the start line on Friday. He then discussed his race schedule, which will likely include the Giro d’Italia, where he will concentrate on the two individual time trials, aim to win stages and support Ineos’ GC candidate.
Tarling won the individual time trial at the UAE Tour earlier this year, beating a field that included Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) to record the second WorldTour win of his blossoming career.
He carried that form into Paris-Nice, where he finished second on one stage and helped his team come away with a stage win and third and fourth overall.
Tarling has already raced on the cobbles this year, taking 47th at Omloop Nieuwsblad. He looked strong in that particular race but attacked well before the finish and was eventually dropped by the leaders. He’s learned from that mistake.
“I think it’s going to be good. The weather is nice, so it should be good today,” he told us after signing on at the start in Harelbeke.
“The objective is to win something, take opportunities and just read the races well. I probably need to be more patient than I was in Omloop, and we’ll go for a result with all of us here. I’m in a good place; it felt like a good place in Paris-Nice. The weather was a bit shit in between, the weather was tough in Andorra and I was a little bit sick but now I’m all good,” he said.