Cundy’s 20-year reign as world champion ends
Australia’s Korey Boddington ended Great Britain’s Jody Cundy’s 20-year run as world champion in the C4 kilometre time trial, beating him at the para-cycling track world championships in the Netherlands. Cundy, 48, took silver, bringing an end to a title streak that began in 2006 and underlining the challenge of sustaining success as younger competitors emerge.
Cundy completed the kilometre in 1 minute 4.93 seconds; Boddington was 2.25 seconds faster on the final run. Cundy had retained the title at 15 world championships and was seeking his 17th in the discipline; he has won 23 track cycling world titles overall and is a nine-time Paralympic champion, including three swimming medals. On the opening day, Rebecca Newark won the women’s C5 kilo, Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Holl took silver in the women’s B kilo, Elizabeth Jordan and pilot Anna Whitworth Hay won bronze in that event, and Finlay Graham claimed bronze in the men’s C3 sprint.
In short
- Korey Boddington ended Jody Cundy’s C4 kilo world title run.
- Cundy took silver after a 20-year reign.
- British riders won one gold, one silver and two bronzes elsewhere.
Explained simply
Para-cycling is competitive cycling for athletes with impairments, with riders grouped into classes according to the type and degree of impairment. Track events take place on an indoor oval, and in the kilometre time trial each rider races alone against the clock.
Jody Cundy is a British track cyclist who has competed at the Paralympics and world championships. He has won titles in several disciplines, including the C4 kilometre, a race for riders in the C4 classification; Australia’s Korey Boddington is among the younger riders now challenging established champions.
World championships bring together national teams to compete for titles across different cycling classes and events. Results help show how competition is developing within each class and are part of the wider international season leading towards the Paralympic Games.