Cycling risks losing Paralympic spot as UCI misses Tokyo 2020 application deadline

Cycling risks being left out of the 2020 Paralympic Games programme in Tokyo after it emerged that the UCI was late submitting its application to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Paralympic medallist Jody Cundy has described the situation as “embarrassing” for the UCI, whose president Brian Cookson pledged ahead of his election last year to boost the profile of para-cycling.

Inside The Games reports that the problem came to light yesterday when Sir Philip Craven, president of the IPC, confirmed 16 sports that had secured their place on the Paralympic schedule for Tokyo, with cycling, which has been on the programme since 1984, not featuring on the list.

Speaking after an IPC governing board meeting in Berlin, Sir Philip said: "The UCI only submitted its application late last week.  As a result there was insufficient time for it to be assessed in time.

"The IPC management team will now assess the application, identifying any issues they may have with it, before the governing board discuss it at January's meeting."

At that meeting, to be held in Abu Dhabi from 30 January to 1 February, the IPC will decide the final seven sports to be included at the programme for Tokyo. Including cycling, there are eight sports vying for those places.

The others are canoeing, five-a-side football, seven-a-side football, judo, sailing, taekwondo and wheelchair fencing. Badminton has already been confirmed as a new sport for 2020.

At London 2012, Paralympics GB topped the medal table in cycling with eight golds, nine silvers and five bronze, with Dame Sarah Storey winning two events on the road and two on the track.

Cundy, whose outburst after he was eliminated from the 1km time trial due to a malfunctioning starting gate hit national headlines, won bronze in the individual pursuit to add to the two gold medals he had taken in Beijing four years earlier.

Reacting to news that the UCI had missed the IPC deadline, he told BBC Sport: "Hopefully they're embarrassed this has happened.

"When you hand in your homework late it isn't great, but this is handing in your homework late on the biggest stage of all and it is pretty embarrassing for an international governing body.

"Hopefully it gives them a kick up the bum," the 35-year-old added.

The UCI has come under criticism for the lack of top-level events for para-cyclists and in his manifesto published prior to his election as UCI president in September last year, Cookson said that it was “important that we support more international events for Para-cyclists.

"Athletes thrive on high quality competition but the Para-cycling calendar is presently bare.

"We need to increase the number of races and raise standards by providing better support and working closer with event organisers," he added.