Josh Tarling disqualified from Paris-Roubaix for taking tow from team car (+ video)

Ineos Grenadiers rider Josh Tarling wasdisqualified from this afternoon’s edition of Paris-Roubaix for taking a tow from a team car as he made his way back to the peloton following a mechanical issue.

The 20-year-old British rider, who was widely tipped to secure a high placing in the 259.7 kilometre race, was clearly upset after the decision of the commissaires was relayed to him with around 130km to go, waving his arms in the air in frustration.

However, the race jury had little option but to disqualify Tarling, with his extended ‘sticky bottle’ moment caught by the TV cameras, aerial footage showing him holding onto the car as he tried to rejoin the select 30-strong main group of favourites following a puncture.

This is how Josh Tarling got himself DSQed today - too much sticky action at speed to get back in after a puncture

I've seen those not given as long as you're not overtaking someone#ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/g3ksunSrKm

— Mathew Mitchell (@MatMitchell30) April 7, 2024

> “Is this a joke?” Mathieu van der Poel slams Paris-Roubaix hairpin ‘chicane’ at Arenberg Forest entrance as peloton divided

Speaking at the finish, a reticent Ineos Grenadiers DS Ian Stannard said: “It was a decision that was made on the road and it’s done. There we are.

“It’s just a racing circumstance. He’s had a bike change and that’s it. You’re not getting any more from me.”

Tarling, riding a massive 62 tooth chainring, was midway through his second Paris-Roubaix when he was unceremoniously expelled from the race, after battling to finish third from last and outside the time limit during his debut at the Queen of the Classics last year.

Very frustrating for Tarling 🇬🇧, but those are the rules. #ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/18UELcTn7g

— Tim Bonville-Ginn (@TimBonvilleGinn) April 7, 2024

Around the same time Tarling was being expelled from the elite men’s version of the Hell of the North, his 17-year-old younger brother Finlay – a fellow time trialling prospect – was battling to the finish of the Junior Paris-Roubaix.

On what was his road debut for Team GB, Tarling Jnr’s prospects, however, weren’t aided by an early crash, which ripped a large portion of the back of his skinsuit and resulted in all his gels for the race being dumped on the road:

Ouch...

Nevertheless, the youngster battled on at his debut outing on the rough cobbles of northern France, ultimately finishing 48th, just over eight minutes down on Slovenian winner Jakob Ormzel, as Tarling’s British teammate Sebastian Grindley finished in the Roubaix in 11th, one place ahead of Northern Irish rider Seth Dunwoody.

“Well some days are just shit,” the Tarling brother’s dad Michael tweeted today.

Well some days are just shit.

Fin crashed early, ripped the back of his skinsuit and lost all gels. Super proud for finishing coming home around 50th I think.

Josh a nightmare with crashes, punctures and a DQ. Not going to comment as haven’t seen it but I love/hate this race. pic.twitter.com/VsEgfwbkJZ

— Michael Tarling (@tarling_michael) April 7, 2024

“Fin crashed early, ripped the back of his skinsuit and lost all gels. Super proud for finishing coming home around 50th I think.

“Josh a nightmare with crashes, punctures and a DQ. Not going to comment as haven’t seen it but I love/hate this race.”

For world champion Mathieu van der Poel’s relationship with the Queen of the Classics, however, is very much a loving one, the rampant Dutchman attacking solo with 60km to go to secure his second straight Roubaix win, in what was the fastest ever edition of the Hell of the North.

Van der Poel’s latest jaw dropping ride, capped off by Alpecin – Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen winning the sprint (way) behind for second – makes him only the sixth man in history to win Roubaix in the rainbow jersey (though notably the second rider, full stop, to achieve that feat this weekend, after Lotte Kopecky’s dramatic late surge to beat Elisa Balsamo and Pfeiffer Georgi on Saturday).

He’s also the first rider since Fabian Cancellara in 2013 to win the Tour of Flanders and Roubaix in the same season, while his Alpecin team now hold the distinction of having won every monument so far this season, after Philipsen’s Milan-Sanremo triumph.