Cycling
Printed with permission of Paralympics Ireland
Cyclist Enda Smyth is a CP athlete who represents Ireland at the highest level and competes internationally.
For a family day of activity, join CPSI at the beginning of Bike Week on Saturday June 15th at Cycling Ireland’s National Sprocket Rocket Family Festival. Activities run from approx 11am-3pm and it’s free!
Venue: St Anne’s Park, Clontarf. 900m cycle loop plus cycle skills areas and adapted cycling.
Handcycles and adapted bikes courtesy of IWA Sport will be available for children with disabilities to try cycling for fun. All details on this and more recreational and competitive events can be found at www.cyclingireland.ie
Information on Competitive Cycling (source: CPISRA)
The competitions comprise four groups of handicaps (blind and visually impaired riders, people with cerebral palsy, locomotor disabilities and handcycling) and a total of 14 functional categories for men and women in all the age categories defined by the UCI. Riders are placed in the appropriate category in the light of their functional capacity.
The main events are the World’s Championships (since 1994), the Paralympic Games and the World Cup (since 2010).
SEVEN SPECIALITIES :
Para-cycling has been officially administered by the UCI since an agreement to transfer governance of the discipline from the International Paralympic Committee was signed on 7 February 2007.
This discipline is divided into road and track races for a total of seven events:
ROAD EVENTS:
• Road race (men and women)
• Individual time trial (men and women)
• Handcycling relay
TRACK EVENTS:
• Tandem sprint (men)
• Team sprint (men and women, mixed event)
• 500 m time trial (men and women) or kilometre time trial (men and women)
• Individual pursuit (men and women)
The UCI defines functional categories for men and women of all ages. Riders are allocated to the appropriate category depending on their functional capacity.