Great Ayton’s Harry Tanfield is looking to add to the success of Teessiders for Team England at the Commonwealth Games in the road cycling time trial tomorrow.
After Jade Jones-Hall grabbed gold in the Para-triathlon at the weekend, Harry Tanfield is aiming to become the second Teesside University student to medal at Australia’s Gold Coast in the last four days.
Harry’s younger brother, Charlie (who is also scheduled to race), has already claimed a gold and silver medal on the cycling track for Team England.
The 23 year-old is one of three English cyclists selected to ride the time trial.
????TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT????#TeamEngland select 27-strong cycling team to compete for #TeamAndCountry at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ????????????????????????????????
➡ https://t.co/AHjQPNMM4E pic.twitter.com/WazFFOBAi0
— Team England (@TeamEngland) March 6, 2018
After being selected, Harry told Teesside University: “It will be great to represent my country, I have never done that before. It will be completely different at senior level.
“I went to Australia in 2015 for a training camp with JLT Condor. Hopefully it won’t be quite as warm as it was when I was there last. I remember doing some crits in 42 degrees in a black skin-suit – it felt like I was melting.”
Tanfield is currently 7/1 with the bookmakers to win gold in the time trial and is in serious contention for a medal. Callum Scotson of Australia is the overwhelming favourite.
The Currumbin Beachfront is the picturesque location for the start and finish point of the 37.8 kilometre circuit. Here is a short video outlining the course Harry Tanfield faces:
Harry is due to leave the start ramp at 11.37 a.m. local time – 2.37 a.m. UK time (early Tuesday morning). For a full start list, click here.
After Tuesday’s time trial, Tanfield’s attention will turn to the road race on Saturday where he is expected to help Team England leader, Adam Blythe, challenge for the Commonwealth gold.
“I don’t know how I’ll get on,” he told GazzetteLive. “I’ll probably get belted out the back at some point!
“I can’t see me getting to the finish line with someone like (WorldTour rider and race favourite) Caleb Ewan. But we’ll see how I get on.”
The time trial will be available to watch live on the BBC Sport website
GOOD LUCK HARRY!!!
Freelance Sports Journalist. Teesside University Graduate
