Bigham signs for new team
Team KGF team-mate Bigham completes impressive weekend for new track team
New British track outfit Team KGF laid down a sensational set of results at the Glasgow Sprint GP with Charlie Tanfield riding a sub-4:15 individual pursuit.
The time shocked Tanfield himself. “We came in with some decent preparation but it was nowhere near optimal, because we are trying to peak for the World Cups rather than this track meeting,” he said.
“At the Nationals I did a 4:22 so I thought I’d try to build on that and get to a 4:20, but as soon as I got going in the actual race I knew it was quick and I was feeling good. I just managed to hold it until the finish and I couldn’t believe the time.”
Tanfield is now second on the list of British male fastest individual pursuiters with his time of 4:14.994 bettering the previous bests of Geraint Thomas and Sir Bradley Wiggins, with Chris Boardman’s 4:11.114 mark — ridden in the ‘superman’ position — still leading the way.
Team KGF team-mate and individual pursuit national champion Dan Bigham also rode an impressive 4:16.986 to round out a stellar weekend for the new team ahead of the upcoming Track World Cup in Manchester
However, if his ride attracts offers from the British academy, it isn’t of particular interest to the 20-year-old, unless the British podium programme becomes a realistic option.
Tanfield said: “With the team I’m on now, it is such an open atmosphere where any idea can be put forward and if we want to change the way we do things and make things better we will.
“I’ll also get a lot more opportunities, whereas with GB there are eight other guys trying to get selection for a few races, so for my personal development for the next year or so, this team is going to be better. Saying that, if the podium
squad becomes a viable opportunity then it would definitely be something to consider.”
The surprise time has meant that Tanfield will now re-assess his and his team’s goals for their upcoming race programme, which includes Class One events in Portugal, Switzerland and The Netherlands, followed by the UCI Track World Cup events in Poland and Manchester in November.