Israel – Premier Tech Academy is set to welcome the promising young Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. This move marks a significant step for Tarling as he transitions from track and time trial successes into the broader arena of road racing.
At just 17 years old, Tarling has already showcased his talents, particularly noted with a nail-biting second-place finish at the 2023 Junior Chrono des Nations, where he was narrowly beaten by just one second. His move to road racing is seen as a strategic evolution of his cycling career, tapping into his existing strengths and developing new skills.
Tarling says that he was drawn to the Israel – Premier Tech Academy by their clear developmental strategy and the supportive team environment. “The team came with a real plan and will help me work across all the development areas over the coming seasons,” Tarling noted, emphasizing the importance of a supportive and structured team setting that feels like a family.
Tim Elverson, IPT Academy Manager, has been monitoring Tarling’s progression for some time, driven by a strong connection with the Welsh Academy. Elverson’s insight into Tarling’s capabilities suggests a bright future in time trialling and potentially excelling in the demanding classic-type races. “Fin’s obvious strength makes him a TT specialist, but with some work, I believe he will be stretching his legs in tough classic-type races in the future,” Elverson shared.
Early Experiences and Future Aspirations
Already having experienced the Paris – Roubaix Juniors, Tarling is eager to delve deeper into the challenging world of cobbled classics. He aims to leverage his first year with the team to hone his skills and gain invaluable experience. “The type of races where you can learn the most in terms of positioning and choosing when to make race-winning moves are classic-type races,” he explained.
Sylvan Adams, the owner of IPT, highlighted the significance of Tarling’s signing as a testament to the team’s effective recruitment program. “Fin’s confidence in joining our program is truly a validation of our system,” Adams stated, pointing to the successful progression of development riders to the senior team. “Everyone knows what a strong rider his older brother Josh is, and talent clearly runs in the family.”
