Tarling was born and grew up in Aberaeron, Ceredigion, west Wales. He speaks English and Welsh.[3] He has a younger brother, Finlay, who is also a cyclist and has signed to the Israel Premier Tech Academy for the 2025 season.[4] Their father, Michael, is a keen cyclist who used to race at Newport Velodrome.[3][5] In 2012, Tarling’s parents started the West Wales Cycle Racing Team, in part to address the lack of cycling clubs in the area.[3][6]
Tarling started racing when he was around six years old.[5] He has described that he was “pretty much a full-time cyclist from the age of 10”, travelling across the UK and Europe with his family for races.[7] He raced his first time trial when he was 12 years old. Tarling has moved from Wales to Andorra since turning professional in 2023.[8]
His first race with the team was the Étoile de Bessèges in February; he finished 56th overall but finished second in the final stage time trial, which was won by Mads Pedersen.[13] In March, Tarling competed in Paris–Nice; he made the Stage 7 breakaway group but had to abandon after crashing on a descent.[14] Later that month he started his first elite classic, the E3 Saxo Classic, though he did not finish.[15] In April he competed in his first monument, the Paris–Roubaix. Though he missed the time cut by six minutes, he finished the course, making him – at the age of 19 – the youngest rider to finish the men’s race in 86 years.[16]
Tarling raced in the Dwars door Vlaanderen in March, finishing in sixth position after a dramatic race, 44 seconds behind race winner Matteo Jorgenson.[26] He followed this up with a 17th place finish at the Tour of Flanders – his second monument race – four days later.[27] In April, Tarling was on the start line of Paris–Roubaix for a second time, however he was disqualified midway through the race for taking an illegal tow from the Ineos team car following a mechanical issue.[28][29] In June, he raced in the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he finished 46th overall and came second in the Stage 4 time-trial to Remco Evenepoel.[30] Later that month Tarling defended his National Time Trial title, beating runner-up Max Walker by more than a minute.[31]
On 24 June 2024, it was announced that Tarling would be part of the Team GB squad competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.[32] He came fourth in the time trial having suffered a puncture, finishing just 2.16 seconds outside the medal placings.[33] He also competed in the road race a week later, crossing the line in 47th place with the peloton.[34]
In early July 2024, Tarling signed a new three-year contract with Ineos, extending his stint with the team until the end of 2027.[35][36] On 13 August the team announced that Tarling would be making his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España, which was followed by expectations that he would perform well in the two time trial stages at the start and end of the race.[37] He finished in sixth place on the Stage 1 time trial, 8 seconds back from stage winner Brandon McNulty. On Stage 9, Tarling crashed on a technical descent; while he was initially able to continue, he abandoned the race a few kilometres later.[38][39]
On 7 October 2024 it was announced that Tarling had been selected for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.[42] He was forced to withdraw shortly before the event due to injuries sustained at the CRO Race earlier in the month.[43]
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