Amateur cyclist Charlie Tanfield capped a fairy tale rise to the top of his sport when he was crowned king of the Commonwealth, writes Alex Spink on the Gold Coast.

The 21-year-old, who operates outside the heavily funded British Cycling set-up, took his first serious spin in a velodrome only two years ago.

Yet in Brisbane yesterday he won the men’s individual pursuit in a faster time than Sir Bradley Wiggins clocked to win each of his two Olympic titles in the discipline.

“It’s unbelievable, absolutely epic,” said Tanfield after denying Scottish opponent John Archibald a family double following sister Katie’s win in the women’s race.

Tanfield at the medal ceremony after his golden ride (
Image:
Getty)

“Two years ago when I went to nationals it was my first time round a track since I was 15 and my ultimate goal was to get to a Commonwealth Games. I think I’ve achieved a bit more than that now.”

It is hard to exaggerate the rags to riches rise of this young man in a sport which has cried out for a good news story.

One of four amateur riders who decided to take on the big boys and give the 2017 national track championships a crack, the quartet caused a sensation by winning three titles.

They responded by moving into a flat together in Derby and getting serious and by March of this year Tanfield had not only been picked to race for GB at the World Track Cycling Championships in Apeldoorn, he had captured team pursuit gold.

So to Australia where, having won silver in Thursday’s team pursuit, he produced the third fastest time in history (4mins 11.455secs) to reach the individual 4,000m final

His final time (4:15.952) against Archibald was nothing like as quick but still easily quick enough.

Tanfield celebrates individual pursuit gold with his mum (
Image:
PA Wire)

“The results just keep on coming,” he said after climbing off his bike to hug his mum inside the Anna Meares Velodrome. “It’s so good to keep on proving myself on the world stage.”

Despite Tanfield's triumph, England ended the second day of competition behind host nation Australia in the medal table.

Aussie swimmers won a stack of golds in the pool, but there were also titles for Sarah Vasey and Alice Tai.

Vasey trains with Adam Peaty and his coach Mel Marshall in Loughborough and has made almost as startling progress as Tanfield.

“This time last year I won my first British title, now I'm Commonwealth champion,” she said, after winning the 50m breaststroke. “It's crazy.”

* Laura Muir has reversed her decision to link up with a coach from the controversial Nike Oregon Project.

The star British athlete, who is fervently anti-drugs, planned to work with David McHenry, despite NOP being led by Mo Farah's former coach Alberto Salazar, who is being probed by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

But last night “after some reflection” she pulled the plug, saying she needed to "minimise distractions and stresses" to allow her to focus on athletics and her degree in veterinary medicine.