Tarling family heartbroken as riders pay tribute to British cyclist

Finlay Tarling's father Michael says it has been "heartbreaking and heartwarming" to receive messages of support and happy photos of his son following the British cyclist's death.

The 19-year-old died after an accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal on Friday.

Riders paid tribute to the Welshman as the race resumed on Saturday, with Michael Tarling releasing a statement via TNT commentator Jez Cox during stage nine.

"If it's at all possible please thank people on our behalf for all the messages of support that we've had, from me, Dawn and Josh," he said.

"Knowing how many lives Fin has touched has been a tremendous help and seeing some of the happy photos of him has been heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time."

Tarling's team, NSN Development, have withdrawn from the race, though Cox stressed that it had restarted with the blessing of the Tarling family.

Wearing black armbands, the riders observed a minute's silence before setting off in the city of Paredes, with race leader Alexis Guerin in a black jersey.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a minute's silence was held before the start of stage three of the Czech tour in Pardubice, while riders clapped in tribute to Tarling before the third stage of the Arctic Race of Norway began in Stokmarknes.

In a statement confirming the final stages would go ahead, Volta organisers said Friday had been a "tragic day for cycling" and the race would be held in an "atmosphere of profound mourning".

It added that "as a sign of respect and mourning" the main sponsors of the event had agreed to cancel all activities for the remaining two stages.

"The race continues. There will be a sporting competition, but not a party... This Saturday, the Volta rides for Finlay."

Welshman Tarling was competing for the NSN Development Team when the incident occurred on the 166.8km route from Melgaco to Fafe on Friday.

Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster RTP on Saturday, Carlos Canatario, a spokesman for the National Republican Guard [GNR], said Tarling was one of three riders at the back of the race with the peloton split into three.

The teenager had become detached from his team's support car and was struck going round a bend, not realising another vehicle could be on the course, Canatario said.

"Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to place a guard officer at all those access points, along all those kilometres - in other words, that is humanly impossible," Canatario said.

"The vehicle was not on the wrong side of the road, it was in the right-hand lane going in the opposite direction to the race.

"The cyclist cut across, as is natural, as cyclists do, he cut the corner using the lane further to the left and that was what caused the cyclist and the vehicle to collide."

Canatario went on to say that the GNR - Portugal's security force - is investigating if any signage had been removed from the point where the vehicle was able to access the race but that the driver was unlikely to face any charges.

At the start of the day, the NSN Development Team confirmed that they had withdrawn from the remaining stages of the Volta a Portugal.

NSN added: "With the full support of Fin's parents, the WorldTour team will race on at Czech Tour and the Arctic Race of Norway. We will continue to hold Fin in our hearts as we race in his honour, doing what he loved most.

"We want to thank everyone in the cycling community and beyond for the incredible support at this difficult time."

Tarling, the younger brother of Netcompany-Ineos rider Josh, had raced for Great Britain on the road and track.

He looked to be following in the footsteps of his older brother Josh as a time trial specialist.

He finished in third in the under-23 men's individual time trial at the British Championships in June and competed in the Tour of Britain just under 12 months ago.

"This is not the time for speculation about the circumstances of the accident. The incident is being investigated by the GNR Command, which is responsible for rigorously establishing the facts," the Volta added.

"We all remain deeply shaken.

"Cycling is a sport that involves risks, but we are never prepared for a tragedy of this magnitude. Finlay lost his life. A family lost a son. A team lost a team-mate. Cycling lost one of its own. It is a tragedy that transcends the competition itself."