News: Jody Cundy To Race Revolution 10

Excitement is building ahead of Revolution Series Round 1 this Saturday night in Manchester and Paralympian cyclist Jody Cundy can’t wait to do battle in the elite team competition.

A Bronze medalist in the 4km pursuit at the Paralympics in London, Cundy will ride in one of 12 elite teams at the Manchester Velodrome as the 10th season of the Revolution Series begins and the national appetite for track cycling continues to grow.

He’ll compete against team pursuit Gold medalists Ed Clancy (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Steven Burke (IG-Sigma Sport), while British Time Trial champion Alex Dowsett will ride for Team Sky. Maxgear return to defend their title while Team Raleigh, IG-Sigma Sport and Endura-NetApp debut at the Revolution.

The 34-year-old Cundy was infamously disqualified from the C4-5 Men’s 1km time trial at the Paralympics back in August, but bounced back with Bronze in the C4 4km individual pursuit the following day, and he’s raring to compete in the world’s only elite track cycling league.

“The chance to race in able-bodied events really drives me as there is always someone better than me to race against,” Cundy said. “That takes me out of my comfort zone and helps me raise my game. It’s great to race people head-to-head and really get stuck in.

“Testing myself against Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant and Steven Burke will be exciting, especially when you know how fast they are in a team pursuit. Hopefully I’ll be up to the challenge but it’s formidable for anyone. Especially for a sprinter like me in an endurance racers’ world!”

As for his outburst at the Paralympics, when a faulty start gate appeared to cost him a Gold medal (his first 1,000m in the 4km pursuit was fast enough to win 1km Gold), Cundy added: “Every time people have talked to me about London the response has always been the same, they’ve been very supportive … some have said I was restrained compared to what they’d have done. Which I have to say is slightly worrying!

“The interest in cycling at the moment is sky-high, especially in Great Britain as we’ve dominated on the road and track,” Cundy added. “The Revolution Series is also a brilliant way for fans to experience cycle racing live for the first time. There are sell-out crowds, frantic racing, the chance to see some of the best riders in the world along with a lot of promising young riders, all potential stars of the future. It’s the perfect blend of action to ignite anybody’s interest.”

For the full interview with Jody Cundy and more free-to-use quotes go here: http://www.cyclingrevolution.com/latestnews_221012_Jody_Cundy_Full.php

ITV4 will show Revolution Series Round 1 highlights next Wednesday, 31st October at 8pm and the show will be available for catch-up in ITV Player.

Revolution Rounds 1-3 are sold out but tickets are still available for the fourth and final round at the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow on 2nd February 2013 – buy tickets here