Fin Tarling’s death casts shadow over Tour of Britain as safety fears loom large

The peloton at the Volta a Portugal paid tribute to Fin Tarling, who died when his cycle collided with a non-race vehicle last month. Photograph: Nuno Veiga/EPA

The death of the Welshman Fin Tarling continues to cast a long shadow over professional cycling and nowhere will that absence be felt more deeply than at the men’s Tour of Britain which begins on Wednesday.

Tarling’s former team NSN Cycling, which includes the Olympic medallist Ethan Vernon, also one of his closest friends, will be brought to the start line in Lincoln for the opening 187km stage, for what is expected to be a minute’s applause.