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.”
