Cycling at the Summer Paralympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cycling at the Summer Paralympics
Governing body	IPC
Events	44 (men: 30; women: 12; mixed: 2)
Games
1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Medalists

Cycling has been a part of every Summer Paralympic Games since the 1984 Summer Paralympics. When it first started, there were only seven road races. Now, cycling events happen on both the road and a track. Since 2012, cycling has become one of the biggest sports at the Paralympics, usually having around 50 different events. Only athletics (running, jumping, throwing) and swimming have more events.

Cycling at the Paralympics: A Quick Look

Cycling wasn't always at the Paralympics. It started in 1984 with just a few races. Over the years, it has grown a lot, adding more and more events for different types of cyclists.

Games	Year	Number of Events	Top Country
7	1984	7	Norway
8	1988	7	South Korea
9	1992	9	Germany
10	1996	23	Australia
11	2000	27	Australia
12	2004	31	Australia
13	2008	44	Great Britain
14	2012	50	Great Britain
15	2016	50	Great Britain
16	2020	51	Great Britain

How Paralympic Cyclists Are Grouped (Classification)

Cyclists with visual impairments often ride a tandem bicycle with a sighted pilot. Here, Scott McPhee is the pilot for Kieran Modra.

To make sure races are fair, cyclists at the Paralympics are put into groups based on their disability. This system helps athletes compete against others who have a similar level of physical ability.

Before the 2012 Summer Paralympics, the groups were:

• B&VI 1–3: For cyclists who cannot see well (visual impairment). They ride a special two-person bike called a tandem bicycle.
• LC 1–4: For cyclists with problems moving their body, like those who have lost a limb.
• CP 1–4: For cyclists with cerebral palsy. Those in CP 1–2 use a tricycle (three-wheeled bike), and those in CP 3–4 use a regular bicycle.
• HC A, B, and C: For cyclists who use a handcycle, which they power with their arms.

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, a new system called para-cycling classification was introduced:

• B: Cyclists with a vision impairment, using a tandem bicycle.
• T 1–2: Cyclists with conditions like cerebral palsy or MS, who use a tricycle.
• C 1–5: Cyclists with amputations or other physical challenges, who use a regular bicycle.
• H 1–4: Cyclists who use a handcycle.

Generally, tricycle and handcycle races happen on the road, not on a track. Tandem and regular bicycles can be used on both the road and the track. Most classes have four individual events: a road race, a road time trial, a track time trial (short race against the clock), and a pursuit race (where two riders start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch each other). There are also team events, like mixed handcycle relays on the road and a mixed team sprint on the track.

Fairness in Racing (Factoring)

Sometimes, cyclists from different classification groups race together for the same medals. To make it fair, a system called factoring is used. This means that the times of riders with more severe disabilities are adjusted (reduced) to account for their challenges.

Factoring percentages are based on how fast riders in each group usually are. This helps to create an "equal" time for everyone, even though their real times are different. Real times are still recorded for world and Paralympic records within each specific group.

For example, at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, factored races included the mixed tricycle time trial and some women's road and track time trials.

Road Cycling Events

Road cycling events take place on roads, often with hills and turns. The main types of races are:

• Road Race: Cyclists race together over a set distance, and the first one to cross the finish line wins.
• Time Trial: Cyclists race alone against the clock. The person with the fastest time wins.

Men's Road Events

Men compete in both road races and time trials. The time trial has been a part of almost every Paralympics since 1984. The road race has been included in many games since 1992.

Women's Road Events

Women also compete in road races and time trials. Both events have been featured in many Paralympics since 1984.

Mixed Road Events

Some road cycling events include both men and women competing together.

• Team Relay: This is a newer event where teams of handcyclists race together. It has been part of the Paralympics since 2012.
• Road Race and Time Trial: In the past, there were mixed road races and time trials, but these are no longer current events.

Track Cycling Events

Track cycling takes place in a special indoor or outdoor stadium called a velodrome. The track is oval-shaped and banked (sloped) on the turns.

• Individual Pursuit: Two cyclists start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch each other. The fastest time over a set distance wins.
• Time Trial: Cyclists race alone against the clock for a short distance, like 500 meters or 1 kilometer.
• Sprint: This is a short, fast race, often involving tactics before a final burst of speed.

Men's Track Events

Men's track cycling includes individual pursuit and time trial events for both regular bicycles and tandem bicycles. These events have been very popular since 1996.

Women's Track Events

Women's track cycling also features individual pursuit and time trial events for both regular bicycles and tandem bicycles. These events have been a key part of the Paralympics since 1996.

Mixed Track Events

There are also mixed team events on the track.

• Team Sprint: Teams of cyclists work together to achieve the fastest time over a short distance. This event has been included in several Paralympics since 2000.
• Past Events: In earlier games, there were other mixed track events like the Omnium (a multi-event competition) and various tandem open events.

Overall Medal Table

This table shows which countries have won the most medals in Paralympic cycling, combining both road and track events, up to the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Countries shown in italics are former countries that no longer exist.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Great Britain	51	30	16	97
2	Australia	41	35	34	110
3	United States	26	41	32	99
4	Germany	23	28	22	73
5	Netherlands	19	16	16	51
6	France	18	11	21	50
7	Italy	17	15	14	46
8	Spain	13	15	21	49
9	China	13	15	17	45
10	Canada	9	13	14	36
11	Austria	8	12	8	28
12	Czech Republic	8	7	10	25
13	Slovakia	6	5	4	15
14	Ireland	6	4	4	14
15	Japan	5	7	6	18
16	Poland	5	7	3	15
17	Switzerland	5	6	8	19
18	Belgium	4	5	9	18
19	Ukraine	4	2	1	7
20	Belarus	4	1	0	5
21	South Korea	3	6	5	14
22	Norway	3	2	5	10
23	South Africa	3	2	3	8
24	RPC	3	0	0	3
25	New Zealand	2	3	7	12
26	Romania	1	3	0	4
27	Denmark	1	0	0	1
28	Sweden	0	2	2	4
29	Czechoslovakia (TCH)	0	2	0	2
	Finland	0	2	0	2
31	West Germany (FRG)	0	1	2	3
32	Brazil	0	1	1	2
	Portugal	0	1	1	2
34	Israel	0	1	0	1
35	Colombia	0	0	5	5
36	Argentina	0	0	2	2
	Lebanon	0	0	2	2
38	Russia	0	0	1	1
Totals (38 entries)		301	301	296	898

See also

In Spanish: Ciclismo en los Juegos Paralímpicos para niños

• Cycling at the Summer Olympics
• Cycle sport
• Para-cycling
• Para-cycling classification
• UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships
• UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships