Para cycling words · Intermediate

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I · Intermediate · 28 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

Division

A group of sport classes defined by the machine the rider uses. The divisions are handcycle (H1 to H5), tricycle (T1 and T2), cycle (C1 to C5) and tandem (B).

See also: T1 and T2, C1 to C5, Tandem, Tricycle, Handcycle

Sport class code

The UCI recommends writing a rider's licence code as a gender letter followed by the sport class, so that the first letter is gender and the rest is the class.

Minimum age

In para-cycling track and road competitions the minimum age is the year of the rider's 14th birthday. Riders under 16 compete only among themselves in scratch and road race events, and their road circuits must be completely closed to traffic.

Factored event

An event that combines sport classes or genders. Standard performance factors, published in a table on the UCI site, are applied to the times so that the combined classes are treated fairly.

Combined start

The UCI may start several sport classes or age groups together in a road race, marked by white or yellow bibs, and each group must start at least two minutes apart. Pacing and drafting between classes is allowed in a combined start, and otherwise a rider who takes pace from another class is disqualified.

Sport classes

H1

The handcycle class for riders with the most severe impairments, for example a complete tetraplegic lesion at C6 or above with loss of trunk stability and lower limb function, or severe spasticity or athetosis in all four limbs. Recumbent riding is mandatory.

H2

A handcycle class for riders with a motor-complete cervical lesion at C7 or C8 or above, with complete loss of trunk stability and lower limb function but better arm strength than H1, or comparable non-spinal impairment. Recumbent riding is mandatory.

H3

A handcycle class for riders whose impairment stops them using a kneeling or sitting position, such as paraplegia from a motor-complete lesion between Th1 and Th10 with no lower limb function. Recumbent riding is mandatory. The 2026 amendments revise the H3 profile.

H4

A handcycle class for riders whose impairment stops them using a bicycle, tricycle or a kneeling position, such as paraplegia with a complete lesion from Th11 or below, with no or impaired lower limb function and nearly normal trunk stability. Recumbent riding is mandatory.

H5

The handcycle class for riders who cannot use a bicycle or tricycle but can use the kneeling or sitting position, which they must then use. It includes paraplegia with a complete lesion from Th11 or below with normal trunk control.

T1 and T2

The tricycle classes, for riders who cannot ride a bicycle because of poor balance or severe restriction in pedalling from spasticity, ataxia, athetosis or dystonia. T1 is the more severely affected class, with poor trunk use, and T2 has a more fluent movement pattern and better control of the trike.

C1 to C5

The cycle classes, for riders who race a bicycle, with C1 the most impaired and C5 the least. They include riders with limb deficiencies, loss of muscle power or range of movement, leg length difference of 7 cm or more, and coordination impairments. Riders in C2 may use a fixed crank, and those in C3 and C4 may shorten the crank.

B

The single tandem class, for riders with a vision impairment who meet the minimum impairment criteria. Riders are listed as B1, B2 or B3 on the classification master list under the IBSA visual classes.

Also called: tandem class
See also: Tandem

Tandem pilot

The sighted rider at the front of a tandem, who steers. A pilot is treated as an athlete, must hold an international licence and must have the same sporting nationality as the rider. A rider may have only one pilot in a competition. Professional riders of UCI registered teams may not pilot, and a pilot must be over 18 and not selected for certain senior events.

Classification terms

Eligible impairment types

The UCI lists eight: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis and vision impairment. The impairment must come from an underlying health condition and be permanent and verifiable. The IPC's current Code groups some of these differently.

Minimum impairment criteria (para-cycling)

The UCI's thresholds. For example, a leg length difference must be at least 7 cm, a limb deficiency must be an amputation of the foot through Lisfranc or of all fingers and thumb, and a vision impairment must give a visual acuity of LogMAR 1.0 or worse or a visual field under 40 degrees diameter.

Sport class status (UCI)

The UCI gives a classified rider one of confirmed (C), review at the next available opportunity (R), review with a fixed review date (FRD) or expired (E). A rider is New (N) before their first evaluation session and must be evaluated before competing at a UCI world championship.

Observation in competition

A rider with status New (N) is observed by the classification panel at their first appearance, which for a rider with a physical impairment must be at a time event such as an individual time trial or individual pursuit. The panel then gives a final class and status.

Road events

Road race (para-cycling)

Road courses must be completely closed to traffic. Circuits are between 7 km and 15 km, with climbs averaging at most 8% and no more than 15% at the steepest point, and total climbing no more than 25% of the circuit. Handcycles, tricycles and youth riders may use a shorter, easier circuit.

Feeding by foot

Because some riders cannot easily take a bottle on the move, feeding is by foot, from both sides of the road, in zones at least 50 m apart. It is forbidden in the first and last laps.

Ranking order

The results of a para-cycling international race are ordered by the finish line, then lapped riders, then riders who abandoned (DNF), disqualified riders (DSQ) and those who did not start (DNS). A rider overtaken by the leader keeps racing, and the others stop when they next cross the line after the leader's last lap.

Individual time trial (para-cycling)

At UCI para-cycling world championships a nation may enter at most three athletes in each sport class. Time trial courses may use the same circuits as the road races, and should be closed to traffic, at least to oncoming traffic.

Track events

Track events (para-cycling)

Track events are open only to riders in the sport classes C and B, so there is no track racing for handcycle or tricycle classes. Starting blocks are used in the individual pursuit, the first rider of the team sprint and the kilometre and 500 m time trials, with a 15-second countdown.

Individual pursuit (para-cycling)

Held for each C class and for tandem men and women. In qualification the UCI recommends pairing riders with similar impairments. When a factor is used the finals are ridden alone, and riders are only matched head to head if they are in the same class.

Kilometre and 500 m time trial

A standing-start race against the clock, for tandem men and women and for men and women in each class from C1 to C5. Starting blocks are used.

Tandem sprint

A sprint for blind and visually impaired riders, men and women, over 3 laps from the pursuit line. At the Paralympic Games and world championships a 200 m qualifying time is taken and the eight fastest go into a knockout sprint tournament.

Team sprint (para-cycling)

A team of three athletes plus substitutes, from classes C1 to C5, which may be mixed across classes. The total of the three riders' points, set by gender and class, may not exceed 10. A nation may enter one team, and a second only if it is all women. Teams ride alone against the clock in qualifying, and the four fastest go to the finals.

Scratch race (para-cycling)

The usual track scratch race rules apply, but each sport class has its own event, results and medal ceremony, over a distance set for the class.

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