Cycling has been contested at every Summer Paralympic Games since the 1984 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.
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
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.
At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, factored races included the mixed tricycle time trial, Women's C1–3 road time trial, Women's H1–2 road time trial and track C1–3 and C4–5 events.
1984, 1988, 1992
no track events
1996
200 m sprint tandem open
time trial tandem open
individual pursuit tandem open
mixed gender LC1, LC2 and LC3 events
2000
1 km time trial tandem open
individual pursuit tandem open
sprint tandem open
mixed gender LC1, LC2 and LC3 events
2004
Men's 1 km time trial
CP 3/4
LC 1-4
B 1-3 (tandem)
Men's 3 km individual pursuit
CP 3
CP 4
LC 3
LC 4
Men's 4 km individual pursuit
LC 1
LC 2
B 1-3 (tandem)
Men's tandem sprint
B 1-3
Men's bicycle team sprint
LC 1-4&CP 3/4
2008
Men's 1km time trial
B&VI 1–3
CP 3
CP 4
LC 1
LC 2
LC 3–4
Men's individual pursuit
B&VI 1–3 – 4000 m
CP 3 – 3000 m
CP 4 – 3000 m
LC 1 – 4000 m
LC 2 – 4000 m
LC 3
LC 4
Men's individual sprint
B&VI 1–3
Men's team sprint
LC 1–4/CP 3–4
2012
Men's time trial
Men's individual pursuit
Men's sprint
Mixed team sprint (both men and women)
1996
Women's tandem time trial
Women's tandem individual pursuit
Mixed gender LC1, LC2 and LC3 events
2000
Women's tandem time trial
Women's tandem individual pursuit
Mixed gender LC1, LC2 and LC3 events
2004
Women's time trial
B 1–3
LC1–4, CP3–4
Women's individual pursuit
B 1–3
Women's tandem sprint
B 1–3
2008
Women's time trial
Women's individual pursuit
2012
Women's time trial
Women's individual pursuit
Events at the 1984 Paralympics
Events at the 1988 Paralympics
Events at the 1992 Paralympics
Events at the 1996 Paralympics
Events at the 2000 Paralympics
Events at the 2004 Paralympics
Events at the 2008 Paralympics
Events at the 2012 Paralympics
Events at the 2016 Paralympics
