The 27-year-old travelled to Tokyo 2020 as a reserve but got the call-up he had been dreaming of on the eve of the Games only to be involved in a devastating crash in Great Britain’s team pursuit first round heat against Denmark.
The men’s squad eventually finished a disappointing seventh, bringing an end to Great Britain’s run of three straight gold medals in the event.
The incident knocked Tanfield’s confidence to the point where he almost quit the sport completely, but the Great Ayton rider slowly got back on the bike and fought his way back into contention.
And having sealed selection for the Games, Tanfield hopes he can create some moments to remember in Paris this summer.
“I have been working really hard for the past three years to make the squad and it has not been easy,” he said. “I have had to pull everything out the bag to get selected and I am just happy that I have managed it.
“I missed the World Championships the year after the Games because I had Covid and the guys there won it. for me it was a journey of trying to get into the squad. I have had to be really focussed and work really hard to get there.
“At one point I thought it would be more unlikely that I would go than go. For me to be here and pull off the performances I have managed to do this year has been really good for me. It’s a good feeling.
“I am determined to make sure that it goes well. I really want to go there and do a really good performance and show people what I am capable of.
“It [Tokyo] is an opportunity to come back from and I want to show people what I am capable of because that wasn’t it.”
Tanfield took a few months to begin to cycle again but soon found his groove and was back on the podium a year later with Commonwealth Games silver in 2022 alongside team pursuit teammates Daniel Bigham, Ethan Vernon, and Oliver Wood, who will all head to Paris.
His strong performances continued, as Great Britain earned European team pursuit silver in 2023 before upgrading to gold earlier this year, with Tanfield also winning individual pursuit silver.
It is a long way from the difficult days of 2021 when Tanfield almost left cycling for good but the 27-year-old is now more positive than ever about his chances on two wheels.
“You get the call up to say you are racing tomorrow, you have this elation, and then for it to go so badly is just terrible,” he reflected.
“I didn’t really know if I wanted to continue cycling, I am glad I did.
“You don’t quite understand the gravity of it at the time because there was no one there. I didn’t know what was happening at home.
“I came home and I didn’t quite realise until my girlfriend said I was on the front of the newspaper and there was a picture of me decking it. you understand then that everyone is watching.
“It took me a good few months to actually start riding again and get the ball rolling slowly. Just to start enjoy it again.
“There is more important things in life than cycling but I guess I am proud of myself.”
The strong form of Tanfield’s team pursuit squad means the chance of putting Great Britain back on top of the podium is a realistic one.
And while Tanfield is out for gold, he is also determined to simply enjoy the experience of a full Olympics.
He added: “From the year we have had, we do have an expectation of going and performing well. I feel like that’s what we are capable of. Why not aim for that?
“There is obviously pressure but that’s fine. You need it to perform well. If you went there and felt really blasé you wouldn’t do that well.
“There are all these names in the past but there are some really good names here now.
“We have had such a good year, it has set us up nicely and it is good for our confidence.
“For myself, just to make sure I do a good performance. I want to go and enjoy it, do a really good performance and have a good time.”
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