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Cycling at a Different Level

By Erik Moen, PT

Paralympians are an emerging group of athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have recently made a change in their charter to support both Olympians and Paralympians. Called the Paralympics, they are organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which was established in 1989. Still in its infancy, the first official event under the IPC was the Lillehammer Winter Games in 1994. Since then, the Paralympics has experienced rapid growth, in fact, there were more countries represented at the 2004 Athens Paralympics than all countries represented at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. This growth has been due to larger levels of support from National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

Photo courtesy of Erik Moen

Handcycling bikes come in various models to accommodate each racer's disability and preferred position.

Who participates in Paralympic Cycling?

Bicycling events have different classifications that allow athletes with similar disabilities to compete against their peers. There are both men and women’s categories and athletes are placed into appropriate groups using four main classifications: Locomotor Impairments (LC), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Blind and Visually Impaired (B&VI), and Handcycle (HC). The rules are governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is the international governing body for the sport of bicycle racing.

There are four subclasses within the LC classification. LC 1 is for those with minor limb locomotor issues. LC 2 is intended for athletes with disabilities in one leg but are able to pedal normally using two legs, with or without prostheses, while LC 3 athletes have disabilities on one lower limb, with or without upper limb hindrances. Most LC 3 athletes pedal with one leg. LC 4 is for those with more severe disabilities, usually affecting both lower limbs, with or without upper limb impediments.

The cerebral palsy group is also split into four different levels of classification. Its numerical ranking is opposite of the LC group, meaning that CP 1 is the most disabled group and CP 4 is for the least disabled athletes. CP 1 athlete rides an adult tricycle, although it’s not your average tricycle — they’re pretty fast, actually. CP 2 and CP 3 categories allow for competitors to choose between racing on bicycles in division 3 or on tricycles in division 2. CP 4 participants ride standard bicycles.

B&VI athletes ride on a tandem bicycle (as the stoker) with a non-impaired athlete (as the pilot — who cannot be a professional cyclist). It is to the B&VI athlete’s advantage to get a really fast amateur cyclist as their teammate. Both the men and women’s categories are normally quite fast.

As the name implies, handcyclists use their hands/arms/shoulders to propel their steed. These custom three-wheelers allow cyclists to pedal from a kneeling or recumbent position, depending on their disability. There are three different classifications within the handcycling division. HC A is for the more severely disabled, meaning complete loss of trunk and lower limb function together with other severe and complex disabilities. HC B is for those with complete loss of lower limb function and limited trunk stability. Athletes with complete lower limb function loss but have minimal functional disabilities otherwise, or partial lower limb function loss combined with other disabilities that make conventional cycling impracticable, are classified as HC C.

Photo courtesy of Erik Moen

LC 2 Classification - for athletes with disabilities in one leg but are able to pedal normally using two legs, with or without prosthetics.

These are the very basics of the ranking system, as there are deviations within each group. You will sometimes hear athletes within a given classification group question as to why the winner was classified within a certain category. In this regard, the participants are no different than any other athlete.

The Paralympics Cycling Games take place on both the road and the track. The velodrome races are limited to timed-events such as the pursuit, kilometer and 500m time trial (TT). The road events include TT and road races and distances for both types vary based on athlete classification.

How does one get involved?

In order for an athlete to participate in Paralympic and qualifying events, they must have their disability rated and classified based on function. Currently there is only one “classifier” in the United States, making it difficult to get many athletes categorized. The governing rules for Paralympic Cycling are listed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and you can find up-to-date news and regulations on their website.

Photo courtesy of Erik Moen

Cerebral palsy class 1, 2 and 3 riders use an adult tricycle to compete on the road.

As Paralympic growth continues, expect a future increase in cycling events specifically for disabled athletes. USA Cycling has now taken over Paralympic cycling operations. Coaches from Carmichael Training Systems have admirably managed the Paralympic Cycling program under contract for the past eight years. The next Paralympic Games will be held in London in 2012. Selection events and guidelines will be listed on the UCI website.

For more information visit:

UCI regulations for Paralympics: www.uci.ch

International Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.org

USA Paralympics: www.USParalympics.org

USA Cycling: www.USACycling.org

Erik Moen, PT is a nationally recognized expert on the treatment of bicycling-related injury and bicycle fit. He practices physical therapy in Kenmore, WA. He may be reached at Corpore Sano Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, 425-482-2453 or www.BikePT.com.