Paralympic Cycling – Track
Cycling at the Paralympic Games is made up of two disciplines: Road Cycling and Track Cycling.
Did you know?
- Handcycling – for athletes with lower limb disabilities – was introduced at the Athens 2004 Games.
- Athletes from more than 40 countries compete in Paralympic Cycling.
- Cyclists must wear protective helmets, the colour of which reflects their class.
Key facts
Venue: Velodrome
Dates: Thursday 30 August – Sunday 2 September
Gold medals up for grabs: 20
Athletes: 150
The thrill of two and three-wheeled racing is quite new for athletes with a disability.
Paralympic Cycling was originally developed as a sport for blind athletes, who first competed using tandem bicycles.
Technological advancements have since opened the sport up to a wider range of categories, fuelling rapid growth in the number of events and the standard of competitors over the last three decades.
For more information on the history of the sport, visit the IPC website.
Track Cycling at the Paralympic Games
The first Track Cycling races at the Paralympic Games took place at Atlanta 1996. Track Cycling features events for both individuals and teams. Competitors in different disability classes use bicycles, tricycles, tandems and handcycles, and are grouped together according to their functional ability.
Paralympic Cyclists compete under exactly the same rules and conditions as their counterparts at the Olympic Games.
Get involved
If you want to get in on the action, contact British Cycling. For more on cycling, see the website of the International Cycling Union
Learn more about how to get involved on the Parasport website
