Harry Tanfield eyeing Classics in debut pro season
Harry Tanfield is “quite nervous” about making the leap from the Continental ranks to the Worldtour, but relishes the opportunities to ride the Classics with Katusha-alpecin.
The 23-year-old Englishman will debut in the professional ranks in 2019 with Team Katusha-alpecin. He is eyeing the early-season races in the Middle East with an opportunity to ride the Classics.
“It’s what I’ve wanted to do since being a senior, but I am quite nervous actually,” Tanfield told CW.
“I’ve done some races at that level, but not that many. I hope to ride in the desert races in the early season and then into the Classics. I’d love to do Paris-roubaix.”
He is currently racing for British team Canyon-eisberg. This season, he impressed by winning stage one of the Tour of Yorkshire, where Katusha also raced. That and the national time trial result, sandwiched between winner Geraint Thomas (Sky) and future team-mate Alex Dowsett (Katusha-alpecin), helped seal the deal.
Soon after, Katusha general manager José Azevedo began chatting with Canyon-eisberg sports director Tim Elverson, and an agreement was made for 2019 and 2020.
“They want to improve in the TTT set-up,” said Tanfield. “It’ll be interesting to see what I can bring to that. I don’t know where Tony Martin is going to ride next year, but it’ll be interesting to fill his boots! I’ll try!”