{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Short description|Sport of cycling adapted for cyclists who have various disabilities}} thumbnail|Handcyclist Ursula Schwaller at the 2012 Paralympic Games '''Para-cycling''' (or '''paracycling'''/'''para cycling''') is the sport of cycling adapted for cyclists who have various disabilities. It is governed by the {{lang|fr|Union Cycliste Internationale|italic=no}} (UCI). The sport consists of seven different events which include road and track races. The world's elite para-cyclists compete at Track and Road Worlds Championships since 1994, the Commonwealth Games, the Paralympic Games and the World Cup since 2010.<ref name=uci>{{cite web |url=http://www.uci.ch/para-cycling/about/ |title=Para-cycling – About |publisher=Uci.ch |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>
==History== Para-cycling originated in the 1980s, starting with visually impaired riders who competed on a tandem with a sighted partner. In New York 1984 it entered the Summer Paralympic Games, where it consisted of only road races for riders with cerebral palsy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/aboutpara-cycling?c=EN|title=About Para-Cycling|website=British Cycling|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> Over the next four Paralympic Games further events were added. In Atlanta 1996 track cycling was included as well as a variety of disabilities in various functional categories. Handcycling was included in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics as an exhibition event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingireland.ie/page/disciplines/paracycling |title=Cycling Ireland | Paracycling |publisher=Cyclingireland.ie |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>
==Events== [[File:Scott McPhee and Kieran Modra riding 01.jpg|thumb|A tandem bicycle with the visually impaired cyclist in the rear seat, in front is the sighted pilot]] Para-cycling events consist of the following three road races and five track events:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/para-cycling/about-paracycling|title=About Para-cycling|publisher=UCI|access-date=17 December 2019}} </ref>
===Road=== * Road race (men and women) * Individual time trial (men and women) * Handcycling team relay (men and women, mix)
===Track=== * Tandem sprint (men and women) * Team sprint (men and women, mixed event) * 500 m time trial (men and women) or kilometre time trial (men and women) * Individual pursuit (men and women) * Scratch race (men and women)
==Classification== {{main|Para-cycling classification}} Classification of riders consists of three broad groups; visual impairment, cerebral palsy and physical impairment.<ref name=":0" /> These are subdivided into 14 functional categories for men and women. Riders are placed in the appropriate category according to their functional ability.<ref name = uci />
B: blind (tandem) B1-2
C: cycle C1-5
H: handbike H1-5
T: tricycle T1-2
==See also== * Racerunning * Road cycling * Track cycling * UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships * UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships * Cycling at the Summer Paralympics
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons cat}} *{{cite web|accessdate=19 November 2022|url=https://www.paralympic.org/cycling |title=Para Cycling |publisher=International Paralympic Committee}} *{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/para-cycling| title = Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-Cycling Website}}
Category:Para-cycling Category:Cycle sport Category:Paralympic sports
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