Paralympic cycling rules: What do H, T and C codes mean for different events?

One of the most spectacular and popular sports at the Paralympics will be the cycling events.

Following a successful Olympic Games in Paris, it is the turn of the inspirational Paralympians to take center stage. And there will be a feast of action for cycling enthusiasts to get their teeth into over the next few days.

There is a wide variety of disciplines and categories depending on athletes’ impairment, with handcycles, tricycles, or bicycles all being used. Visually impaired athletes will compete on tandems with a sighted ‘pilot’. The eligible impairments for Paralympic cyclists are as follows:

• Impaired muscle power
• Involuntary movements
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Muscle tension
• Limb deficiency
• Uncoordinated movements
• Leg length difference
• Vision Impairment

Handcycle (H1-H5)

There are five classes in hand-cycling with the lower number for the more severely impaired athletes. For example, athletes in the H1 category do not have any trunk (chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back) or leg movement and limited arm use, often because of spinal injuries.

Athletes classified in the H5 class compete from a kneeling position and therefore can use their arms and trunk to accelerate the handcycle. Athletes in that category may have had leg amputations, paraplegia (inability to voluntarily move the lower parts of the body), or mild to moderate involuntary movements or uncoordinated movements.

Tricycle (T1, T2)

Tricycle athletes are unable to ride a bicycle due to a lack of balance and/or restriction in pedaling due to muscle tension, uncoordinated movements, or involuntary movements. The T1 class is for athletes with more significant impairments than competitors in the T2 category.

Cycling (C1-C5)

Spread across five classes, this is for athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle with approved adaptations. The categories are defined by limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of motion, and impairments affecting coordination, such as uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements. C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe limitations, while C5 is for competitors with minimum impairments.

Tandem

Visually impaired cyclists race in tandem with a sighted cycler (pilot) in front. That means athletes with both mild and severe sight issues can compete together.