Josh Charlton, the 22-year-old British cyclist who recently broke the world record in the individual pursuit, has revealed that several WorldTour teams have shown interest in his talents, despite currently being without a road squad.
Charlton, who became European champion in the 4,000m event earlier this month, added a British title to his list of accolades on Friday. However, following the closure of his previous team, Trinity Racing, at the end of 2024, he finds himself without a road contract.
Speaking to Cycling Weekly, Charlton confirmed that “five or six” WorldTour teams had reached out to his agent after his record-breaking performance at the UCI Track World Championships in October, where he clocked 3:59.304 in qualifying—making him the third rider ever to break the four-minute barrier. Though the record was surpassed by Italy’s Jonathan Milan in the final, Charlton earned a silver medal, and his achievement caught the attention of top-tier teams.
“I didn’t realise the potential I had until October,” Charlton admitted. “I didn’t realise how good I was at it until that day.”
While his performance in Copenhagen generated significant interest from road teams, Charlton noted the timing of his achievement played a role in the lack of immediate offers. “It’s a difficult time to do such a good ride like that in October, when rosters have been decided, and budgets have been used up,” he explained. “If I’d done it in September, maybe it would have been a different story.”
Charlton added that his agent had received multiple requests for training data from WorldTour teams, showing that there is clear interest in his abilities. “It just shows there is potential, there’s definitely interest. I’ve got to keep pushing, keep driving, doing fast times, winning stuff, and eventually they’ll hopefully take notice.”
Although he did not secure a permanent contract for 2025, Charlton is open to guest rides or stagiaire positions with professional road teams later in the season. His impressive performances on the track, including competing against elite riders like Filippo Ganna and Jonathan Milan, provide hope for his future in road racing.
“I’m lucky that I’ve got the track, and I’ve got the funding from British Cycling, so I can still keep doing it,” Charlton said, acknowledging that many riders have had to end their careers due to team closures.
As Charlton continues to push for further success, the interest from WorldTour teams is undeniable. “It’s not the end of the world that I’m not on a WorldTour team,” he said. “It just means I’ve got to keep pushing and keep finding opportunities.”
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