Charlie and Harry Tanfield return to their base in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire this week, ready to take on t the National Road Championships in front of home crowds.
With Charlie being on Cornish team Saint Piran, but based in Manchester with the British Cycling track programme, and Harry racing in Europe with Dutch-based TDT-UNIBET, the duo rarely gets to race around the North East anymore.
British Cycling National Championships 2022 – Elite Men’s Circuit Race – Kirkcudbright – Scotland – Harry Tanfield, Team Ribble Weldtite. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Both are therefore keen to make the most of a National Road Championships on home soil, to make it more than just a procession in front of family and friends. They are there to impress, to win, to get their hands on a coveted national champions jersey.
It’s going to be weird going back there to race because I’ve not been there since I was 10 or 12 years old
Charlie Tanfield
Speaking to Josef Murray a few days out, the Tanfields explain that the National Road Championships are a ‘full circle’ moment for them.
“I first started out racing in Teeside and on the Croft Circuit as well [that will be used] for the time trial” Charlie explains. “That was where I first started racing, so it’s going to be weird going back there to race because I’ve not been there since I was 10 or 12 years old”, he added.
Harry remembers racing locally with the Cleveland Wheelers as a junior. “I started racing down at South Bank on the go-cart track, which was a really good circuit”.
With domestic road racing facing numerous existential challenges at the moment, the brothers hope that the championships will help to revive interest in road racing in the North East. Harry explains, “I remember when the Klondike GP first happened in 2017; I couldn’t believe the amount of people on the side of the road. I just hope people get behind the nationals, and I think they will.”
2023 Men’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix presented by Wattbike – Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England – Charlie Tanfield of Saint Piran. Images: Oliver Brookwell/SWpix.com
After the demise of local team Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling at the end of last season, and the sudden collapse of AT85 Pro cycling earlier this year, Charlie’s team Saint Piran is now one of only two men’s UCI Continental road racing teams left in the UK, a sign of the challenging situation British road racing finds itself in.
“It’s just a shame that there’s no other teams around [in the UK],” Harry laments.“There’s no proper coverage of the events. The National [Road] Series is the National [Road] Series. To put on an event like that and the cost of doing that in the UK is astronomical. It’s like 50 grand or more. You can see why no organisers will take that on.”
Hopefully, the nationals here in the North East can reinvigorate everyone again
Charlie Tanfield
“I did the Lincoln GP this year and there were very few guys from up north,” Charlie adds. “Yorkshire and the northern areas have always been quite a stronghold for cyclists, but I just think it’s been difficult for organisers to put on the races. Hopefully, the nationals here in the North East can reinvigorate everyone again.”
Charlie kicks off his nationals with the time trial at Croft Circuit on Wednesday. “I’d say if I get in the top five, that’d be an unbelievable performance for me,” he says. While he admits the time trial course is suited to him, he is looking forward to the circuit race around Redcar seafront more. “Two days later [at the criterium] you know, I want to try and get out there and see if I can win that”.
I’m going to try and be in the breakaway and ride it smart … Charlie can give me a hand round as well
Harry Tanfield
Harry comes to the circuit race in good form after racing in Holland for much of the season with his TDT-UNIBET team, he also has set his eyes on a result this Friday; “I’m going to try and be in the breakaway and ride it smart … Charlie can give me a hand round as well,” he jokes.
Harry Tanfield at the 2023 Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic. Image: Joe Cotterill
Harry has been competing in criterium and one-day racing since moving to Holland from the UK when his old team Ribble-Weldtite folded last year. “Because there’s a pro race every week, there isn’t any training races, they’re all on two-kilometre cycle parks which have been designed to be raced on”. He continues, “I’ve done a few crits in Holland before coming home and I’m excited to be racing in the UK crits again since I haven’t raced in one since last year”.
I’m doing Charlie’s communication on the radio for the TT and he’s going to use my TT bike as well, so yeah, I’m going to help out
Harry Tanfield
Even though the brothers race competitively for two different teams, older brother Harry will help his family out during the National Road Championships. “I’m doing Charlie’s communication on the radio for the TT and he’s going to use my TT bike as well, so yeah, I’m going to help out,” he explains. “My brother [Toby] is coming back from Spain in a couple of days and he’s racing [the time trial] too, so we’ll help him too”
Lining up against the best riders in the world doesn’t faze the brothers anymore but Charlie still gives a lot of respect to his fellow competitors at this year’s championships. “When I was starting out and I got to line up against all the WorldTour riders it was so cool. You can gauge yourself against these top riders and stuff.” He continues, “I mean, I’m a bit more experienced now, it’s not really so much of a surprise but yeah, like just to be able to race against the high calibre riders… You know, G [Geraint Thomas], is iconic. He’s one of the best UK riders that we’ve ever seen, it’s just cool”.
This year’s nationals have stacked fields in both the men’s and women’s categories but the local pair are not scared of sticking their elbows out and fighting for that prestigious jersey. “It’s nationals, you know, this is a really strong field. So, I’m keen to just get stuck into it,” Charlie says.
2023 UEC Track Elite European Championships – Tissot Velodrome, Grenchen, Switzerland – Charlie Tanfield of Great Britain warm-up. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
After the nationals both brothers have different schedules. Harry will be taking a short break followed by a trip to Andorra in preparation for the Sibiu Cycling Tour. “It’s a proper stage race, it’s got a TT as well so I’ll be doing work on the TT bike while I’m still at home. It’s really important that we’re strong in the ITT because that is what will set GC”. He admits, though, that he won’t be looking at GC contention himself; his role will be protecting the team’s designated leaders.
It’s not confirmed but we’ve applied to be in the race … we’ll know in the next month
Harry Tanfield
Hoping that TDT-UNIBET will be able to secure a spot in this year’s Tour of Britain, Harry will be looking to light up the UK roads again later this year. “It’s not confirmed but we’ve applied to be in the race … we’ll know in the next month.”
With the 2023 world championships and Paris Olympics around the corner, Charlie is fully focused on the track side of racing after he’s done with the National Road Championships. “I’ve got nationals, then I’ve got a training block which will lead me into world champs in August. So that’s the main goal.
“I’m a track rider. So that’s the main thing for me. Next year is the Olympic year so everything’s going to get shifted towards that.” When asked if we would see him on the road again this year he added, “I’ve been signed up as a specialist for the track so I don’t have as many obligations to do the road stuff as previous. But yeah, I mean, if a race suits me then I’m all for it, but it’s got to factor in around the track stuff really”.
For now, though, the brothers are fully focused on the nationals. Could we see a Tanfield in a national jersey by the end of the week?
Charlie and Harry Tanfield return to their base in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire this week, ready to take on t the National Road Championships in front of home crowds.
With Charlie being on Cornish team Saint Piran, but based in Manchester with the British Cycling track programme, and Harry racing in Europe with Dutch-based TDT-UNIBET, the duo rarely gets to race around the North East anymore.
Both are therefore keen to make the most of a National Road Championships on home soil, to make it more than just a procession in front of family and friends. They are there to impress, to win, to get their hands on a coveted national champions jersey.
Speaking to Josef Murray a few days out, the Tanfields explain that the National Road Championships are a ‘full circle’ moment for them.
“I first started out racing in Teeside and on the Croft Circuit as well [that will be used] for the time trial” Charlie explains. “That was where I first started racing, so it’s going to be weird going back there to race because I’ve not been there since I was 10 or 12 years old”, he added.
Harry remembers racing locally with the Cleveland Wheelers as a junior. “I started racing down at South Bank on the go-cart track, which was a really good circuit”.
With domestic road racing facing numerous existential challenges at the moment, the brothers hope that the championships will help to revive interest in road racing in the North East. Harry explains, “I remember when the Klondike GP first happened in 2017; I couldn’t believe the amount of people on the side of the road. I just hope people get behind the nationals, and I think they will.”
After the demise of local team Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling at the end of last season, and the sudden collapse of AT85 Pro cycling earlier this year, Charlie’s team Saint Piran is now one of only two men’s UCI Continental road racing teams left in the UK, a sign of the challenging situation British road racing finds itself in.
“It’s just a shame that there’s no other teams around [in the UK],” Harry laments.“There’s no proper coverage of the events. The National [Road] Series is the National [Road] Series. To put on an event like that and the cost of doing that in the UK is astronomical. It’s like 50 grand or more. You can see why no organisers will take that on.”
“I did the Lincoln GP this year and there were very few guys from up north,” Charlie adds. “Yorkshire and the northern areas have always been quite a stronghold for cyclists, but I just think it’s been difficult for organisers to put on the races. Hopefully, the nationals here in the North East can reinvigorate everyone again.”
Charlie kicks off his nationals with the time trial at Croft Circuit on Wednesday. “I’d say if I get in the top five, that’d be an unbelievable performance for me,” he says. While he admits the time trial course is suited to him, he is looking forward to the circuit race around Redcar seafront more. “Two days later [at the criterium] you know, I want to try and get out there and see if I can win that”.
Harry comes to the circuit race in good form after racing in Holland for much of the season with his TDT-UNIBET team, he also has set his eyes on a result this Friday; “I’m going to try and be in the breakaway and ride it smart … Charlie can give me a hand round as well,” he jokes.
Harry has been competing in criterium and one-day racing since moving to Holland from the UK when his old team Ribble-Weldtite folded last year. “Because there’s a pro race every week, there isn’t any training races, they’re all on two-kilometre cycle parks which have been designed to be raced on”. He continues, “I’ve done a few crits in Holland before coming home and I’m excited to be racing in the UK crits again since I haven’t raced in one since last year”.
Even though the brothers race competitively for two different teams, older brother Harry will help his family out during the National Road Championships. “I’m doing Charlie’s communication on the radio for the TT and he’s going to use my TT bike as well, so yeah, I’m going to help out,” he explains. “My brother [Toby] is coming back from Spain in a couple of days and he’s racing [the time trial] too, so we’ll help him too”
Lining up against the best riders in the world doesn’t faze the brothers anymore but Charlie still gives a lot of respect to his fellow competitors at this year’s championships. “When I was starting out and I got to line up against all the WorldTour riders it was so cool. You can gauge yourself against these top riders and stuff.” He continues, “I mean, I’m a bit more experienced now, it’s not really so much of a surprise but yeah, like just to be able to race against the high calibre riders… You know, G [Geraint Thomas], is iconic. He’s one of the best UK riders that we’ve ever seen, it’s just cool”.
This year’s nationals have stacked fields in both the men’s and women’s categories but the local pair are not scared of sticking their elbows out and fighting for that prestigious jersey. “It’s nationals, you know, this is a really strong field. So, I’m keen to just get stuck into it,” Charlie says.
After the nationals both brothers have different schedules. Harry will be taking a short break followed by a trip to Andorra in preparation for the Sibiu Cycling Tour. “It’s a proper stage race, it’s got a TT as well so I’ll be doing work on the TT bike while I’m still at home. It’s really important that we’re strong in the ITT because that is what will set GC”. He admits, though, that he won’t be looking at GC contention himself; his role will be protecting the team’s designated leaders.
Hoping that TDT-UNIBET will be able to secure a spot in this year’s Tour of Britain, Harry will be looking to light up the UK roads again later this year. “It’s not confirmed but we’ve applied to be in the race … we’ll know in the next month.”
With the 2023 world championships and Paris Olympics around the corner, Charlie is fully focused on the track side of racing after he’s done with the National Road Championships. “I’ve got nationals, then I’ve got a training block which will lead me into world champs in August. So that’s the main goal.
“I’m a track rider. So that’s the main thing for me. Next year is the Olympic year so everything’s going to get shifted towards that.” When asked if we would see him on the road again this year he added, “I’ve been signed up as a specialist for the track so I don’t have as many obligations to do the road stuff as previous. But yeah, I mean, if a race suits me then I’m all for it, but it’s got to factor in around the track stuff really”.
For now, though, the brothers are fully focused on the nationals. Could we see a Tanfield in a national jersey by the end of the week?
Featured image: SWpix.com
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