The Gazette

Charlie loses individual crown after tasting team glory

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CHARLIE Tanfield was frustrated to have been outstrippe­d by the Commonweal­th field as he lost his individual pursuit crown on home soil.

The Great Ayton star won team pursuit silver alongside Oliver Wood, Ethan Vernon and Dan Bigham on the opening night of racing at London’s velodrome.

Tanfield’s defence of his Commonweal­th 4000m title ended in qualifying, where he placed fourth, but he managed to squeak into the medal finals by 0.8 seconds after a ride of 4:09.776.

The 25-year-old led through the first 1000m of the bronze medal run-off but faded and was pipped to the podium by Conor Leahy of Australia.

“In all honesty I thought I could edge him out there,” he reflected.

“I came into it with quite a lot of confidence but it didn’t materialis­e in the end. I thought performanc­e-wise, I gave a solid performanc­e and showed what I’m capable of with where I’m now.

“It wasn’t a bad ride but it’s frustratin­g not to be in the gold/silver final or to get a bronze.”

The individual pursuit is a non-Olympic event with Tanfield’s first focus lying in team pursuit and endurance events which will feature at the Paris Olympics.

Tanfield won gold at Gold Coast 2018 in a time of 4:15.952 and has clearly improved with a 4:10.423 showing in the final in front of a packed crowd at Lee Valley Velodrome.

However, it was not enough with the rest of the world making even bigger leaps since then, New Zealand continuing to dominate men’s endurance events.

Aaron Gate took gold, the first ride to win multiple track cycling at the Games, with Tom Sexton taking silver.

Tanfield said: “Last time round I won it in a 15 and I’m knocking out nines now.

“We’ve all improved, they’ve just improved a little bit better than me. It doesn’t mean in the next few competitio­ns I can’t get to their sort of pace.

“It’s swings and roundabout­s. I’ll keep on improving and making sure I get to the next competitio­n in better shape.”

After his second Team England appearance, Tanfield’s attention turns to the European Track Championsh­ips in Munich later this month.

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 ?? ?? Charlie Tanfield competing in the Men’s 4000m Track Cycling Individual Pursuit Finals, and, inset, second left, with, from left, Dan Bigham, Ethan Vernon and Oli Wood who won silver in the Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit
Charlie Tanfield competing in the Men’s 4000m Track Cycling Individual Pursuit Finals, and, inset, second left, with, from left, Dan Bigham, Ethan Vernon and Oli Wood who won silver in the Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit

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