Kevin le Cunff

Started: He began competing in Para cycling in 2020. (lemonde.fr, 04 Apr 2020) Reason: He became interested in Para cycling after speaking to one of his teammates while competing as a professional in non-Para road cycling. "When I was young, I never thought about Para sport. I wanted to go as far as possible within the elite [pro cycling]. That's what I did." (lemonde.fr, 04 Apr 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lejdc.fr, 13 Jun 2024) Awards: In 2021 he was named Knight of the Legion of Honour in France. (legifrance.gouv.fr, 10 Sep 2021) Additional Info: SWITCH TO PARA CYCLING In 2019 he found himself without a team in professional non-Para road cycling. This led him to consider quitting cycling, but conversations with other cyclists helped convince him to make the switch to Para cycling. "I didn't want to hear about Para cycling at first. When you get out of the professional environment there is a concern of not being completely fit for Para sport. I was also afraid of people's reaction. It was not easy to make the decision. I talked about Para sport with my former teammate Romain Feillu. In the end, another former teammate, Flavien Dassonville, and the president of the Dunkerque Littoral [Para cycling] club, Laurent Thirionet, got in touch with me, convinced me and I signed with Dunkerque. I had accumulated a lot of experience with the pros and I told myself that it would be a pity not to keep going a bit longer. It also allowed me to wear the national kit and to travel. And I was motivated by all that." (ouest-france.fr, 03 Sep 2021) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has worked as a technician for an aviation and aerospace company based in Paris, France. (lemonde.fr, 04 Apr 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2020)