Cycling at the Summer Paralympics

Cyclists are given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allows cyclists to compete against others with a similar level of function.^[1]

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics and earlier, classes were:

• B&VI 1–3: Cyclists with a visual impairment, using a tandem bicycle
• LC 1–4: Cyclists with a locomotor disability, including those with amputations
• CP 1–4: Cyclists with cerebral palsy, using a tricycle (CP 1–2) or bicycle (CP 3–4)
• HC A, B, and C: Cyclists using a handcycle

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, a functional para-cycling classification system was used.

• B: Cyclists with a vision impairment, using a tandem bicycle
• T 1–2: Cyclists with cerebral palsy, MS or similar neuro-motor impairment, using a tricycle
• C 1–5: Cyclists with amputations, neuromotor or musculoskeletal impairment, using a bicycle
• H 1–4: Cyclists using a handcycle

As a rule, because of the nature of the machine, tricycle racing and handbike racing does not take place in the velodrome, although both tandem and standard bicycles can be used there. With that restriction, generally every class will have four possible individual events to compete in - a road race and extended road time trial, a track time trial of between 500 and 100 metres and a pursuit between 3000 and 4000 metres. In addition, there are a number of team events; a mixed handbike relays on the road, and a mixed team sprint on the track.

In some cycling events, cyclists with different classifications compete against each other for one set of medals. Many (but not all) such events are factored, reducing the times of riders in lower classifications to take their greater impairment into account. Factoring percentages are based on average race times by riders in each classification to give a notional equivalent time for each effort compared to riders in other classifications. Real times, however, are still recorded for world and Paralympic records purposes within each classification.^[2]

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, factored races included the mixed tricycle time trial, Women's C1–3 road time trial,^[3] Women's H1–2 road time trial and track C1–3 and C4–5 events.

Updated to 2024 Summer Paralympics. Countries in italics are former countries who participated in the Paralympics.^[4]

Medal table

More information Rank, Nation ...

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Great Britain (GBR)	59	38	21	118
2	Australia (AUS)	45	39	37	121
3	United States (USA)	30	40	35	105
4	Netherlands (NED)	29	19	19	67
5	France (FRA)	28	23	28	79
6	Germany (GER)	24	29	26	79
7	China (CHN)	18	19	18	55
8	Italy (ITA)	17	17	24	58
9	Spain (ESP)	15	18	24	57
10	Canada (CAN)	9	13	17	39
11	Austria (AUT)	8	14	9	31
12	Czech Republic (CZE)	8	7	10	25
13	Ireland (IRL)	7	6	4	17
14	Slovakia (SVK)	7	5	4	16
15	Japan (JPN)	6	7	6	19
16	Switzerland (SUI)	5	9	9	23
17	Poland (POL)	5	7	4	16
18	Ukraine (UKR)	5	3	2	10
19	Belgium (BEL)	4	9	10	23
20	Belarus (BLR)	4	1	0	5
21	South Korea (KOR)	3	6	5	14
22	Norway (NOR)	3	2	5	10
23	South Africa (RSA)	3	2	3	8
24	RPC (RPC)	3	0	0	3
25	New Zealand (NZL)	2	4	8	14
26	Denmark (DEN)	2	0	1	3
27	Romania (ROU)	1	3	0	4
28	Sweden (SWE)	0	2	3	5
29	Czechoslovakia (TCH)	0	2	0	2
	Finland (FIN)	0	2	0	2
31	Portugal (POR)	0	1	2	3
	West Germany (FRG)	0	1	2	3
33	Brazil (BRA)	0	1	1	2
34	Israel (ISR)	0	1	0	1
35	Colombia (COL)	0	0	7	7
36	Argentina (ARG)	0	0	2	2
	Lebanon (LIB)	0	0	2	2
38	Russia (RUS)	0	0	1	1
Totals (38 entries)		350	350	349	1,049

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