Overview
Cycling is a relatively new sport for Paralympians, with the visually impaired
athletes the first group to take part. Cerebral palsy and amputee athletes
followed, joining the competition in 1984.
Cycling is divided into track and road events. Athletes with cerebral palsy ride
standard racing bikes – competing in track and road - and, in some classes,
tricycles – competing only in road events. Visually impaired athletes compete on
tandem bicycles with a sighted team mate (pilot), and they participate in the
track and road events.
Finally, amputees and cyclists with permanent locomotor deficiencies compete in
track and road events using bicycles specially modified for their needs.
Events
Track – Time Trial, Individual Pursuit, Team Sprint, Tandem Sprint
Road – Road Race, Time
Trial
Classification The purpose of the Para-Cycling Classification is to minimise the impact of
impairment on the outcome of competition, so that an athlete’s success in
competition relies on training, physical fitness and personal athletic talent.
Classification is an on-going process whereby all Athletes are under regular
observation by Classifiers to ensure consistency and fairness for all Athletes.
In order to achieve this purpose, athletes are classified according to the
extent of activity limitation resulting from their impairment. This places
athletes according to how much their impairment affects core determinants of
performance in cycling.
Classification has two important roles
· to determine eligibility to compete ; and
· to group athletes for competition.
Para-Cycling Sport Class
The UCI recommends to use the codes below on UCI Para-Cyclists licenses:
Tandem
Blind & Visually Impaired
MB, WB
Hand Cycle
Class H1
MH1, WH1
Class H2
MH2, WH2
Class H3
MH3, WH3
Class H4
MH4, WH4
Tricycle
Class T1
MT1, MT2
Class T2
MT2, WT2
Cycling
Class C1
MC1, WC1
Class C2
MC2, WC2
Class C3
MC3, WC3
Class C4
MC4, WC4
Class C5
MC5, WC5
The riders code is
read as follows:
1st - Gender,
2nd - Classification,
3rd - Division
