Tarling third as Vuelta begins in Monaco

Josh Tarling put in a brave and committed ride to place third in the opening time trial of La Vuelta a Espana.

The Welshman clocked a time of 11 minutes and one second across a technical course as the Grand Tour got under way in Monaco.

Tarling's time was initially enough to move into the hot seat and saw him ultimately finish third, four seconds back on the stage win. The result meant Josh pulled on the white Young Rider's jersey on the podium.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates - XRG) took the win by less than a tenth of a second ahead of Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step). 

The 9.4-kilometre course produced close times across the field, with Ben Turner and Axel Laurance the next riders home for the team, clocking top-30 times. Oscar Onley also got his race under way without issue on the streets of the Principality.

Geraint Thomas:

"For a start it's just great to have [Josh] here. He was really keen to ride and just wanted to get back to the day job so to speak, and find comfort in the process and being around the team and everything being as normal as possible. 

"We fully backed him with that and it's great to have him here. Obviously it's been unimaginable what he's gone through in the last week or so, but to put in a performance like that, at the end of the week he's had, is just fantastic and it shows the class of him as an athlete and a person. I couldn't be prouder.

"I think the course suited him in the way that technically he's one of the best. I think yesterday was probably the first time he's ridden a bike properly in a while, so to still put that in is in incredible really."