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JODY CUNDY launched a furious X-rated tantrum at the Paralympics yesterday after the British cyclist was sensationally disqualified.

He was the big favourite to follow in the golden tread marks of training partners Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton and was unbeaten in the 1km time trial since 2006.

However, Cundy’s title defence was over before it began as the start gate appeared to delay the release of his wheel before spitting him out and sending him sliding off the track.

It seemed merely a hiccup on another day of triumph for British cycling, with a four-medal haul highlighted by Mark Colbourne’s world record gold medal ride in the 3km individual pursuit.

Cundy, a veteran of five Paralympics and one of our most decorated athletes, calmly raised his arm to signal a false start and prepared for a re-ride.

But the clock did not stop and when DNF appeared by his name, the 33-year-old lost the plot.

“I fell out of the gate because the f***ing thing didn’t open,” he raged at the officials. “Everybody else gets the f***ing re-ride. You can’t do this, I’ve worked all my life for this.

“I’ve wasted four years of my life to ride in front of a 6000 home crowd and I’m in the shape of my life. I’ll never get this opportunity again. Never, ever.”

That much was clear as Cundy, who won three golds in swimming before switching to the velodrome and winning two more in Beijing, lashed out in anger.

Even above the roar of a crowd angered by what they too saw as an injustice, Cundy’s expletive-laden rant could be clearly heard before he was pulled away by two team officials.

Up in the stands his mum condemned a ruling she claimed had “ruined his life”. His girlfriend said her piece too, but officials were having none of it.

UCI technical delegate Louis Barbeau said: “Our interpretation is that the rider put too much weight on the front wheel and as a result the back slipped.”

The episode overshadowed not only Jon-Allan Butterworth’s silver medal in the same event, but Colbourne’s feat in adding a gold medal to his silver 24 hours before.

Cundy, who races again today in the individual pursuit, attempted to limit the damage by later apologising publicly for his bad language.

He said: “Hopefully the youngsters had their hands over their ears.”