Tarling targets Olympic time trial gold

Josh Tarling is a name to remember.

By next weekend, you might not be able to forget it.

For those who don't know much about this 20-year-old Welshman, he rides for Ineos Grenadiers and has won the past two national time trial titles.

He is also the reigning European time trial champion and won time trial bronze at last year's World Championships.

Tarling is about to compete at his first Olympics in Paris. The men's time trial is on day one of the Games next Saturday, and he is aiming high.

"I want to win," he told BBC Sport Wales. "I'm honoured to go, but I want to do well. You can't waste that many opportunities because it's every four years.

"So I want to try to win and I'll throw everything at it to win."

Currently in his second year as a professional, Tarling recently signed a contract extension with Ineos to 2027.

They described him as "one of the most promising young talents in cycling". Grenadiers know a thing or two about those.

Tarling rides for Ineos Grenadiers, the same team as fellow Welshman Geraint Thomas

At last year's World Championships, when he won bronze, the then teenage Tarling was beaten only by Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna - two colossal names of world cycling.

Tarling has continued his training and development since, both on the roads of Andorra where he lives and in the wind tunnel, honing his riding position and technique.

He has reconnoitred the 32.4km course in the French capital, which begins on the Esplanade des Invalides and ends on Pont Alexandre III with only 150 metres of ascent in between. Fast and flat.

Tarling has also recovered from a broken bone in his knee that he suffered at the Paris-Roubaix in April and hehopes he can peak at the perfect time.

"Fitness-wise I'm there," he said. "There's just a few things I need to sharpen up and then that'll bring me the extra little bit I need.

"It's super cool, I like the course. It's fast, it's hard. With it being central, it's proper cool. You can imagine the crowds now."

Josh Tarling would ride round the car park while his dad, Michael, raced in Shrewsbury

Tarling's cycling journey began in less auspicious surroundings.

While his father raced his bike at Shrewsbury Sports Village, Tarling would ride round the car park alongside his younger brother, Finlay, who will also turn professional next year.

In 2022, Tarling went to his first Commonwealth Games with Wales aged just 18. Ineos snapped him up soon after.

So why is he so special?

"I think I've got a decent engine," he says. "When it's grim I seem to do alright - I can capitalise on it. I can read a race quite well.

"I like the whole process of getting better. It's usually not very nice in training but I quite like the results it brings."

Tarling will ride in the men's road race at the Olympic Games as well.

But it is day one on which he wants to shine with a time trial performance - and result - to remember.