CHARLIE Tanfield put in a coming of age performance at the Track World Cup in Minsk.

Tanfield, from Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, put in the standout British performance in the men's individual pursuit on Saturday.

The 21-year-old, representing trade squad Team KGF, clocked four minutes 12.253 seconds in claiming gold in the four-kilometres event, becoming the second fastest Briton.

Tanfield's time was behind only Chris Boardman's 1996 world record of 4mins 11.114secs, set using the more aerodynamic and now outlawed 'Superman' position, and was quicker than the time recorded when Sir

Bradley Wiggins won Olympic gold in the event in 2004 and 2008.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Tanfield said: "From when I arrived I knew a new personal best was on the cards as conditions were good and I was super stoked to ride an individual pursuit in a World Cup. 

"The first round fell to pieces as my wheel moved over and I punctured my rear tub. At that point I thought I'd blown it but managed to get through the qualifying round. 

"In the final everything just clicked. I felt good, the conditions weren't as good, however I was in a much better state of mind. As soon as I settled in I surprised myself, I was holding close to world record splits and just tried to keep a lid on things until the finish."
 

Tanfield paid tribute to those who had helped him over the years.

"I have been absolutely blown away by the support I've received from friends and family to get me to this point. 

"They are the people who make these sort of achievements possible," he said.

The world record in the now non-Olympic event is held by Australia's Jack Bobridge and stands at 4:10.534.
Wales' Lewis Oliva was third in the men's Keirin.

The Track Cycling World Championships take place from February 28 to March 4 in Apeldoorn, Holland, with the Commonwealth Games following on Australia's Gold Coast in April.