The Team manager
In 2017 Charlie joined his brother at Canyon-eisberg and will stay with the team while Harry heads to the Worldtour in 2019, this gives team manager Tim Elverson a unique perspective.
“I saw Harry when he was with JLT and I liked what I saw and thought some of his shortcomings were something I could effect. Having Harry meant I was keeping an eye on Charlie and he wasn’t a risk because if he had any of Harry’s genes he was going to be somewhere close.
“They have slightly different engines. Harry has got a bit more power in a shorter distance and at the back end of a race, but Charlie has a bit more rev in his engine and is a bit better at climbing.”
Elverson believes the brothers’ intelligence can be both help and hindrance and could perhaps explain Charlie’s recent late arrival for the World Championship time trial.
“They are both very conscious of what they are doing and how they are doing it, which means when it comes down to development, thinking about the tiny details, it’s a massive help.
“That said, it can also mean they overthink things and they can get distracted, sometimes they need to start focusing on the here and now. I think you have to know what you’re dealing with, if you do, their intelligence is a big strength.
“Part of the challenge is managing both of them, Harry more than Charlie. Both have their moments with timings, you have to work on getting them in the van at the right time because they are distracted.
“They’ll both do anything asked of them tactically or riding for others.
“They are lovely characters, but you have to build a Tanfield factor into everything.”