Jody Cundy faces a significant challenge as he seeks to extend his remarkable unbeaten streak at the Para-cycling Track World Championships. Known as the king of the kilo, Cundy has dominated the one-kilometre time trial since 2006, and a victory at this year’s event, starting on Thursday in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, would mark his 20th consecutive year wearing the rainbow jersey.

At 48 years old, Cundy acknowledges the increasing difficulty of maintaining his dominance in a sport where younger competitors are emerging. He stated, "It's going to be very hard to keep that unbeaten run. As much as I would love to do it... I'm in trouble."

Among his competitors is Archie Atkinson, a 22-year-old rising star from the Great Britain squad. Atkinson, who was born eight years after Cundy's first Paralympic gold medal in 1996, has already made a mark by beating Cundy at the National Track Championships last year, only for Cundy to reclaim victory at the World Championships later.

Atkinson expressed admiration for Cundy, saying, "If he wins, it's historic. There aren't many people who can win for 20 years."

Cundy’s legacy includes being a six-time cycling Paralympic champion, with two kilo victories at the 2008 and 2016 Games. His teammates respect him so much that they refer to him as "captain." Cundy reflects on his time in the sport, saying, "I try to be the person everyone looks up to... But I know at some point somebody's going to have to take my place."