Para cycling is open to athletes with all physical disabilities. If an athlete can operate a cycle, handcycle, tricycle, or bicycle, they can be classified to compete.

How the Sport Works

SASAPD caters to junior athletes from U15 to U21. Within these age groups, there are four major cycling disciplines:

• C Class: Standard bicycles divided into five sub-groups (C1 to C5), where C5 cyclists are the most able.
• H Class: Handcycles, categorized into seated and reclining types, with four classification groups (H1 to H4). H1 represents the least able riders, typically athletes with lower limb paralysis or above-knee amputees.
• T Class: Tricycles divided into two groups:
  • T2: Cyclists with lower limb impairments like Diplegia.
  • T1: Cyclists with arm and leg impairments, using three-wheel cycles conforming to UCI regulations.
• B Class: Tandem cycling for visually impaired athletes. These cyclists compete with a pilot, who is an able-bodied athlete. The “C” and “B” classes also compete in track cycling events.

Paralympic Representation

Cycling made its Paralympic debut at the 1984 Games. The sport offers a total of 34 gold medals in road events alone at the next Paralympic Games. South Africa has proudly sent cycling teams to the last four Paralympic Games, demonstrating strong participation and competitiveness in this category.