Para Cycling
PARA CYCLING
Para-cycling is the sport of cycling adapted for cyclists who have various disabilities.
This discipline consists of seven different events which include road and track races.
Cycling has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1992 although athletes with a disability have been competing in cycling since the early 1980s . Cycling competitions include the following events:
Road Events:
Road races, Individual Time Trial, Team relay for handbikes
Track Events:
Pursuit, Sprint, 1km/500m individual time trial
Cycling events are open to all athletes with physical and visual disabilities. However, not all events are offered to all athletes. Example, tandem competitors (blind and partially sighted athletes) compete in track and road events while athletes with cerebral palsy only compete in road events. Competitors are classified into 4 broad categories with separate events for each:
- Handbikes with 5 sub-categories (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5)
- Tandem (stoker + Pilot) (B)
- Tricycles with 2 sub-categories (T1-T2)
- Regular bikes (Upper or/and Lower body disability, amputation, Cerebral Palsy) / with 5 sub-categories(C1, C2, C3, C4, C5).
Cycling is governed by the rules and regulations of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) together with the following rule modifications:
- Amateur riders may race as pilots, provided they have not been selected by their national federation for any of the UCI-listed events in the previous three calendar years.
- No professional riders may compete as a pilot.
- An ex-professional rider must not have held a professional license for three calendar years and must not be earning all or part of his/her living from cycle racing for a period of three calendar years.