Tanfield Poised For Funded GB Spot

A place on British Cycling’s squad beckons for new world champion

- Simon Richardson in Apeldoorn

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Two months ago Charlie Tanfield was an aspiring track cyclist, juggling his mechanical engineering studies with his cycling. Now the 21-year-old from North Yorkshire is a world champion and has in his palmarès the fourth fastest individual pursuit time in history. Within a few weeks he is likely to be offered a spot on British Cycling’s Olympic Academy or Podium Programme.

At the World Championships in Apeldoorn, Tanfield rode all three rounds of the team pursuit, finishing off with a comfortable-looking 3.53-minute ride to beat the Danes and take the world title — Britain’s first in the men’s discipline since 2012. The next day he finished fourth in the individual pursuit.