Authorities provide more details of Finlay Tarling’s fatal accident

The British Finlay Tarlinga 19-year-old cyclist from NSN Development, died this Friday in an accident while participating in the eighth stage of the Return to Portugalreported the organization of the test. In a note published on their networks, those responsible indicated that Tarling’s death occurred after “a serious accident”, while the network that broadcast the competition, the Portuguese channel RTP, indicated that it was due to a head-on collision with a vehicle not involved in the race that was traveling in the opposite direction.

Due to the event, the stage was suspended with about 20 kilometers to go and, according to the organization, “as a sign of respect and mourning, the podium ceremony will not be held.”

About an hour after the accident, the major Tiago Machadoof the National Republican Guard (GNR, similar to the Spanish Civil Guard), explained in statements to journalists that the accident occurred due to “a collision between the cyclist and a light vehicle,” and that they are still investigating the other conditions under which the event occurred and its causes.

The death of Finlay Tarling casts doubt on the continuation of the 87th Tour of Portugal and, in the words of the race director, the Spanish Ezequiel Mosquera, there is still “nothing planned.”

“There is nothing planned today. We have just crossed the finish line, we have nothing in mind about whether to continue with the race… And tomorrow will be another day,” the former Galician cyclist told reporters.

However, the president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, Cândido Barbosa, defended to the press that “the race will have to continue” and asked for “strength from the athletes to finish these two days” that remain to be contested.

There are several Portuguese authorities that have reacted to the tragedy: The president of the country, António José Seguro, regretted what happened in a statement and expressed his “deep regret over the tragic death” of the Welsh cyclist, while the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, conveyed his “deepest condolences” to the family, the team and the members of the peloton on social networks.