Cycling: Then and now

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.

How to play – and win

Races are held on the road and the track, with 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.

Cycling at the Games

Cycling was introduced as a Paralympic sport at the Seoul 1988 Games, where only road events were contested.

At Barcelona 1992, competitors from different disability groups competed together for the first time. The first Track races took place at Atlanta 1996.

Facts about Paralympic Cycling

• Athletes from more than forty countries compete in Paralympic Cycling.
• Handcycling – for athletes with lower limb disabilities – was introduced at the Athens 2004 Games.
• Cyclists must wear protective helmets, the colour of which reflects their class.

Get involved

Disability Cycling is growing fast. If you want to get in on the action, contact British Cycling who will put you in touch with the people you need to know (see 'related websites').