Para Cycling
Paralympic Cycling consists of Road and Track disciplines. Road races typically take place on public roads and races last between 5 miles and 25 miles in length. Track races are held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track upright or tandem bikes. Para Cycling is open to athletes with physical and vision impairments.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Motion
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference and/or
- Arm length difference
Vision Impairment
Athletes with Vision Impairment have an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure or function of the eye, optic nerve, optic chiasm, post chiasma visual pathways, or visual cortex of the brain resulting in reduced or no visual function even when using the best possible refractive or optical correction.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to vision impairments include retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.
Entering The Pathway
The first step to entering the pathway is become a USA Cycling member and look for an event offering classification.
Once classified, athletes should look to compete in events within the USA Cycling Para Cycling National Calendars.
Athletes can compete on their own but it is recommended that athletes join a USA Cycling club and work with a coach.
View the Para Cycling Road National Calendar and the Para Cycling Track National Calendar and start competing.
Equipment
At minimum, athletes will need the following equipment to compete in para cycling:
- Helmet
- Cycling shoes
- Racing gloves
Athletes will need one of the following cycles depending on impairment:
- Bicycle, tricycle, handcycle, or tandem bicycle
Local bike shops and cycling clubs are the best place to start when looking for equipment. Some athletes will be able to compete/train on traditional cycling equipment with some adaptive modifications that make the bike work for them depending on the athlete's impairment.
Para Cycling offers National Classification to athletes at different Para Cycling races throughout the year. See below for how to get classified in Para Cycling and the different classifications in Para Cycling.
Physical Impairments
Physical Impairment Medical Diagnostics Form, opens in a new tabTo secure a national physical impairment classification appointment an athlete needs to register for a U.S. Cycling event offering a classification panel. Events Offering National Classification.
- Athletes will need to fill out a Physical Impairment Medical Diagnostics Form and submit it to USA Cycling.
- Athlete's will be given a classification appointment that takes place 1-2 days before the competition where the athlete will undergo both a physical and technical assessment.
- Based on the results of both assessments, athletes will be given a provisional classification that with either be confirmed or altered during competition.
Vision Impairments
National Vision Impairment MDF, opens in a new tabFor National Classification for visual impairments, classification is completed through the submission and review of paperwork and can be completed at any time during the year.
- See your Ophthalmologist and have him/her fill out the Visual Impairment Medical Diagnostics Form.
- Submit this form with supporting documentation to USA Cycling here to request national visual impairment classification.
- Visual impairment classifiers will review the athlete's paperwork and assign the athlete an appropriate class.
- USA Cycling will communicate the outcome to the athlete.
Handcycle Classes
H1-5: Athletes in the handcycle classes utilize a handcycle which is a type of cycle powered by the athlete's arms as opposed to their legs. Athletes compete in either the recumbent or kneeling and sitting positions. Handcycle classes are only eligible for road events.
- H1-4: Athletes compete in a recumbent handcycle, where lower numbered classes are more severely impaired.
- H5: Athletes compete with a kneeling handcycle.
Tricycle Classes
T1-2: Athletes in the tricycle classes compete with a three wheeled bike for stability as most athletes will have a coordination or balance impairment.
- T1: Athletes have significant coordination or balance impairments.
- T2: Athletes have less severe coordination or balance impairments and have better functional control.
Cycling Classes
C1-5: Athletes in these classes are able ride a two wheeled bicycle and have physical impairments affecting power, coordination, or aerodynamics such as limb deficiencies, muscle weakness, limited joint movement, and others.
Athletes compete in classes C1-C5 where the lower the number, the more severe the impairment.
Tandem Classes
B1-3: Athletes in these classes have a vision impairment and compete on a tandem bicycle where the athlete provides the power and the pilot controls the steering and breaking. Tandem classes are only eligible for road events.
Athletes compete in a single class (B). The pilot and the athlete must work in tight coordination and communication.
USA Cycling Club Locator
USA Cycling Club Locator, opens in a new tabFind a USA Cycling club near you to begin your journey in para cycling!
USA Cycling Coach Locator
Coach Locator, opens in a new tabFind a USA Cycling coach in your area to start working with and start cycling!
Velodrome Resources
U.S. Velodromes, opens in a new tabFind a local velodrome to get started in with track cycling camps, clinics, races, and events.
National Team Designation
2026 Para Cycling National Team Designation, opens in a new tabContinue training with a club and coach to progress through the pipeline and compete at national championships and beyond by reaching Para Cycling's national team designation standards.