Rui Oliveira Dedicates Volta a Portugal Stage 10 Win to Finlay Tarling

Rui Oliveira won stage 10 of the Volta a Portugal in a sprint finish and dedicated the victory to the family of the late British rider Finlay Tarling. The UAE Team Emirates rider secured his first professional road victory on the final day, while Alexis Guerin completed the race as overall winner.

Guerin, the race leader entering the final stage, was not challenged on the closing day and the French rider sealed the general-classification victory. Oliveira took the stage honours in the sprint, completing an emotional final two days of racing that went ahead with Tarling’s family’s blessing.

Oliveira’s tribute after final-stage sprint

Oliveira said his thoughts were with Tarling’s relatives, friends and team following his stage 10 success. “First I want to give my condolences to Fin’s family, friends, team – everyone,” Oliveira said. “It’s been a rough couple of days. I can imagine what they’re suffering.”

The 29-year-old said he had spoken the previous day about his wish to win for those offering support, with Tarling’s family and team-mates foremost in his mind. “I said yesterday that I wanted to win for everyone that’s supporting, but most of all for Fin’s family and his team-mates,” he said. “This one is for them.”

Many riders wore black armbands during the final stage. Oliveira’s victory provided a personal milestone at the end of the race, as the Portuguese rider had completed five Grand Tours between 2020 and 2024 before registering this first professional road win.

The stage also held particular meaning for Oliveira because of its location. Born and raised in Porto, he said racing close to home added to his motivation as he pursued the sprint victory.

A home victory as Guerin seals overall title

“I’m so happy to win in my home,” Oliveira said after the finish. The reigning Olympic Madison champion had a Porto football shirt draped across his shoulders as he reflected on a day that brought both sporting success and a tribute to Tarling.

Oliveira said he lives in Porto, supports the city’s football club and passed near his home four times during the stage. “That gave me extra motivation,” he said. His final message again returned to Tarling’s family and to the support he had received during recent days.

“This one is for Fin’s family,” Oliveira added. “They’re really in my heart, and all my family that was supporting me throughout these days.”

For Guerin, the final stage confirmed the overall result after he began the day in the race lead and faced no challenge to his position. Oliveira, meanwhile, emerged from the sprint with the stage 10 win and a first professional road victory that he immediately dedicated to Tarling’s family, friends and team-mates.