Josh Charlton, the reigning individual pursuit world champion and former world record holder, is among the top medal contenders for Team England at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 23-year-old from Sherburn Village aims to add Commonwealth gold to his rainbow jersey, competing in both the individual and team pursuit events.
World Record and World Title
Charlton set a world record of 3:59.304 at the 2024 World Championships, only for Italy's Jonathan Milan to break it hours later in their dramatic final. However, Charlton returned in 2025 to win the rainbow jersey. Reflecting on his record, he said: "I wasn't trying to break it. I didn't know I had that in me. I just went out and rode it on feel." He added: "It suits my physiology really well – that four-minute effort is what I'm best at. It's just you against yourself. There's someone else on the other side of the track, but intrinsically, you're just trying to beat yourself up as best as you can for 16 laps."
Team Pursuit Ambitions
While Charlton excels individually, the team pursuit has been a tougher challenge for England. The quartet lost to New Zealand at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Charlton's debut offers fresh hope. He said: "It's an event that we used to dominate pre-2016, but the last couple of cycles we've been on the back foot to Denmark, Australia and Italy. We've had new riders like myself and Henry Hobbs. The team has grown and become more competitive. It's about getting over the hump and ending a five-year losing streak in major team pursuits."
Team England Lineup
Charlie Tanfield and Ethan Vernon return for Glasgow, joined by Will Tidball and 19-year-old Hobbs, all making their Commonwealth debuts alongside Charlton. He noted: "We've not had as much talent as other nations, but now we have younger, hungrier guys. The depth is the best I can remember. Previously, the same four or five riders went to big races, leading to complacency."
Support from National Lottery
British Cycling received a £75,000 National Lottery grant for 17 competitive bikes ahead of Glasgow 2026. Lottery players raise over £33 million weekly for good causes, supporting athletes like Charlton. He lives in Spain, racing for INEOS Grenadiers Academy, with a pathway to the WorldTour. He said: "If you're on teams with 30 others pushing for a race, you have to up your game. I want to be a WorldTour road rider, and track-wise, it's always about the Olympics. I missed Paris as first reserve, then broke a world record two months later. It was frustrating."
Future Prospects
Beyond the Commonwealths, Charlton's future looks bright. He aims to balance track and road ambitions, with the Olympics as a long-term goal. The Commonwealth Games provide a platform to showcase his talent and build momentum toward Los Angeles 2028.
