Team KATUSHA ALPECIN has reached an agreement with 23-year old Harry Tanfield and look forward to working with the young British cyclist over the next two years. Tanfield currently rides for UCI Continental team Canyon Eisberg and will step up to the WorldTour in the 2019 cycling season. Tanfield, who wore the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 leader’s jersey this season after winning the race’s opening stage into Doncaster, is still pinching himself.
Tanfield: The WorldTour has always been the ultimate ambition. I have a foot in the door now and have two years to prove myself. I don’t pretend to think I have made it. The hard work starts now and the challenge is for me to show I can progress as a rider.
Tanfield specializes in one-day races as well as the individual time trial, and recently took second place behind Geraint Thomas in the Great Britain National Championships (ITT). Earlier results from 2018 include that stage win in the Tour de Yorkshire as well as second place finishes in the one-day races of Midden-Brabant Poort Omloop and Ronde van Overijssel, both 1.2 rated races.
General Manager José Azevedo will officially welcome Tanfield on board his KATUSHA ALPECIN squad on January 1, when the Yorkshireman will line-up alongside fellow Brit Alex Dowsett.
We’ve been watching Harry with our partner Canyon for a while. He’s not only a talented time trial rider. We have seen on this year’sTour de Yorkshire that he has all the skills to win big races. While this is a big step for him now, we as a team will provide him with the best possible support to continue his positive development, said Azevedo.
Canyon Eisberg sports director Tim Elverson has spoken of his pride at Tanfield’s elevation to cycling’s top tier. He sees it as another feather in the cap of his British UCI Continental outfit, who are busy preparing for next month’s Tour of Britain.
Elverson: I’m super happy. It is great Harry’s work has been recognised because he really does deserve it. It underlines Canyon’s commitment to our relationship and also shows we are operating at a level where we can deliver someone to the WorldTour.KATUSHA ALPECIN are getting a very strong, young rider. Hopefully they can help him progress to the next stage and that is to be a reliable WorldTour rider. I have no doubt that is what Harry will become. And from everyone at Canyon Eisberg, we wish him the very best of luck.
I wanted to honour the faith Canyon has put in me through Tim (Elverson) and Nick Allen (Canyon UK), so joining KATUSHA ALPECIN was always the dream. I had just set out on a training ride when José (Azevedo) rang me. I was over the moon. Now I just can’t wait to get started. I have to thank everyone at Canyon Eisberg but especially Tim. We’ve worked together for three years and it has been a great ride, added Tanfield.