Thanks to different types of bicycles, para-cycling opens up the possibility for people with almost every type of impairment to participate in the competition – irrespective of whether they suffer from physical or mental wounds, injuries or illnesses.
The only prerequisite for participation is that the competitors must be able to actively move their upper or lower limbs. Men and women always compete for medals in separate para-cycling events. Regardless of whether the competition is held on a track or on the road – para-cycling is a very exciting experience for both the participating competitors and the spectators.
Thanks to different types of bicycles, para-cycling opens up the possibility for people with almost every type of impairment to participate in the competition – irrespective of whether they suffer from physical or mental wounds, injuries or illnesses. The only prerequisite for participation is that the competitors must be able to actively move their upper or lower limbs. Men and women always compete for medals in separate para-cycling events. Regardless of whether the competition is held on a track or on the road – para-cycling is a very exciting experience for both the participating competitors and the spectators.
Medals in three disciplines
Road cycling competition events are held. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of road bike, hand bike and recumbent bike, in a maximum of seven categories. The following variations exist:
There are three different sports classes in the road bike races, and two different sports classes for hand bikes; competitors with physical impairments usually compete using a hand bike or a standard road bike.
Competitors who had an amputation can use a special prosthetic arm or leg for the connection with the bicycle.
Competitors who have orthopaedic impairments that make it impossible to ride a standard racing or hand bike can use a recumbent bicycle in the competition.
Cyclists with a cerebral movement disorder and/or balance problems can use tricycles.
Competitors with a visual impairment use tandems, which they ride with a sighted guide, known as a pilot.
Road races
In the case of the time trial events, which are held as individual competitions, the competitors must always cover a distance of approximately two kilometres on a circuit in a race against the clock. The situation is different in the case of criterium race events. The criterium race lasts 30 minutes. During the race, the finish time of the competitor in the leading position is projected and, in this way, the maximum number of laps is determined for the field of participants. The cyclist who has completed the highest number of laps will be the winner.
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