Charlie Tanfield has spoken of his relief after clinching the gold medal in the individual pursuit at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The 21-year-old, from Great Ayton, revealed he almost paid the price for going out too hard in the final against Scot John Archibald.
Having set the third fastest time ever in qualifying (4min 11.455sec), the Canyon Eisberg talent was the hot favourite going into the shootout on the Gold Coast.
But despite speculation of a tilt at the world record, conditions inside the Anna Meares Velodrome were not conducive to quick times during the evening session.
Tanfield led Archibald by 1.790sec after the first kilometre, holding that advantage until the Scot knocked almost a second of his deficit in the final four laps.
In the end Tanfield, who clocked 4:15.952, was just delighted to win and further frank his emergence as a world-class track rider. He said:
“I knew I was in a good place after qualifying but towards the end of the race I thought I messed it up for a second.
“I was thinking, I’m just going to have to go full gas here and hope for the best. I managed to hold on to the finish and was really ecstatic with the result.
“It all depends on the conditions. It’s hard to estimate what splits you want to be doing in terms of holding out for the finish and your condition.
“In the qualifier I definitely got it right and in the final I almost paid the price. I got a bit of a juicy start and I managed to get to the end. Getting the gold was the main thing.”
Tanfield’s individual pursuit gold came hot on the heels of silver in the team pursuit on Thursday evening.
His triumphs Down Under have capped a magical track season, which has included a maiden world title, a first individual British crown and Track World Cup victory.
The North Yorkshire talent will now turn his attention to the 37.8km individual time trial in Australia on Tuesday
He will then return to England and get stuck into the road season with Canyon Eisberg. Tanfield said:
“Results just keep on coming. It’s just so good to keep on proving myself on the world stage. It’s unbelievable.
“Two years ago when I went to the nationals, it was my first time riding track since I was about 15 or 16.
“My ultimate goal was to get to the Commonwealth Games and I think I’ve achieved a bit more than that.”
Click here to find out when to tune in to watch Tanfield and his brother, Harry, in the individual time trial on Tuesday.
