Jody Cundy eyes 20th consecutive kilo world title as age‑defying rivalry heats up

A record‑breaking streak on the line

British para‑cyclist Jody Cundy, 48, will defend his kilometre time‑trial (the “kilo”) at the 2025 Para‑cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, starting Thursday. A win would mark his 20th straight year wearing the rainbow jersey in the event – a streak that began in 2006 and has made him the dominant figure in the discipline.

> “I’m getting older and the competitors are getting younger. It’s going to be very hard to keep that unbeaten run,” Cundy told BBC Sport.

Cundy’s own words capture the tension between his unrivalled experience and the rising talent challenging him.

The kilo: a brutal test of power

The kilo is a one‑kilometre time trial from a standing start on a velodrome. Riders complete four laps at maximum effort, battling lactic‑acid buildup and the urge to quit. Cundy describes the effort as “legs and lungs screaming, lactic acid building” and admits that “your legs don’t want to pedal” at the finish. Yet he adds, “when you get it right, it’s really cool,” underscoring why he has returned to the event for more than three decades.

A new generation steps up: Archie Atkinson

Among the 24‑strong Great Britain squad, 22‑year‑old Archie Atkinson represents the next wave of British talent. Atkinson, who was born after Cundy’s first Paralympic gold in swimming (Atlanta 1996), first raced against the veteran at the National Track Championships, where he beat Cundy. The two met again a few months later at the World Championships, with Cundy reclaiming the title.

> “One of my first races was against him… This guy was Paralympic champion, world champion and held a world record at the time,” Atkinson recalled.

Atkinson’s recent victory over Cundy at the national level signals a genuine threat to the veteran’s dominance, even as Cundy acknowledges the difficulty of staying ahead of “the people I have to race this year… I’m in trouble.”

Legacy beyond the track

Cundy’s résumé includes six Paralympic gold medals – two in the kilo (2008, 2016) – and 22 world titles across various para‑cycling events. Within the British squad he is affectionately called “captain,” a role he embraces while recognising the inevitable hand‑over to younger riders.

> “It feels like I’ve earned a bit of respect from being here for so long… I know at some point somebody’s going to have to take my place and I’ll be walking away from the sport.”

He admits he has no concrete retirement plan, but notes that qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games will be a steep challenge at age 49. Should he continue, he envisions a post‑competition career in coaching, management, or governance to improve para‑cycling structures.

Concerns about the sport’s calendar

Cundy criticised the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for offering too few elite para‑cycling track events. Apart from the annual World Championships and the quadrennial Paralympic Games, there are “no other track competitions” for athletes, leaving them without regular benchmarks or rankings.

> “When I first started we used to have competitions, we used to travel and go race in places. Now you go 12 months without seeing anybody.”

The UCI did not respond to a request for comment.

Practical implications for athletes and fans

• Athlete preparation: With only one major track event each year, riders must peak for the Worlds, making training cycles more intense and leaving little room for error.
• Talent identification: Limited competition hampers scouting and ranking of emerging riders, potentially slowing the sport’s growth.
• Spectator engagement: Fewer events reduce visibility, making it harder for fans to follow athletes’ progress throughout the season.

What remains uncertain

• Cundy’s performance: While his record suggests a strong chance of a 20th title, the outcome will depend on his condition on race day and the performance of challengers like Atkinson.
• Future competition schedule: Whether the UCI will expand the para‑cycling track calendar before the 2028 Paralympics is unknown.
• Retirement timeline: Cundy has not set a retirement date; his decision will hinge on qualification prospects and personal ambition.

How to verify

The full interview and additional context are available on the BBC Sport website: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/cjn5vql4z137o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/cjn5vql4z137o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)

Readers can follow the upcoming World Championships results on the official UCI para‑cycling page and the British Cycling website for live updates and official start lists.