The UCI announced that the VELO Sports Center in Carson would host the event on January 9, but with action taking place between March 2 and 5, it left riders with just seven weeks to prepare.

UCI President Brian Cookson said holding the event was a sign of progress, with a World Championships taking place for the first time in a post-Paralympic Games season after Rio 2016 in September.

Cundy, however, was far from convinced and told the BBC: "I know of athletes not going because it is too close for them to even get back on the track, while other nations are not going because they do not have the funding.

"I am not sure the message it sends to go to Los Angeles with half of the normal competitors.

"It takes away from the level of competition and makes it look Mickey Mouse."

Thirty-eight-year-old Cundy, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist and a 12-time world champion, will hope to defend his title in the C4 kilo, an event he has dominated since 2006.

Also selected is Jon Gildea, who will hope to improve upon his silver medal last year in the C4/5 scratch race.

Six tandem teams have also been selected with the event serving as a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games qualifier for visually impaired athletes.

These are Lora Fachie, piloted by Hazel Smith, Aileen McGlynn, piloted by Louise Haston, Alison Patrick, piloted by Helen Scott, Sophie Thornhill, piloted by Corrine Hall, James Ball, piloted by Matt Rotherham and Neil Fachie, piloted by Craig Maclean.

Britain Para-cycling head coach, Jon Norfolk, said: "With a number of experienced riders selected with multiple World Championships and Paralympic Games experience we are confident that this team can bring home multiple medals from these Championships.

"We are pleased to welcome a number of new faces to the team while we look ahead to qualification for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 with some new combinations in the tandem events. 

"Three and a half years away from the next Paralympic Games and, with the opportunity of the Gold Coast, is the ideal time to experiment and look at potential home nation riders.

“It was important when selecting the team for this event that we considered what was going to be the best for our programme riders, not just this year, but over the next four years, which is why a number of our more established riders have not been selected. 

"The period after a Paralympics is always slightly different, with a number of riders choosing to focus on different performance objectives, ahead of another four year cycle working towards Tokyo."