T1 is a

para-cycling classification Para-cycling classification is the process of classifying participants in para-cycling covering four functional disability types. The classification system includes classes for handcycles for people who have lower limb mobility issues. The sport is ...

. It is for athletes with severe locomotive dysfunctions, and insufficient balance to use a regular bicycle. The class includes a number of different disability types including

cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sens ...

. The class only competes in road events and uses

tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for passenger transport) and freight trikes ...

s (hence the "T" in T1).

Definition

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

defined this classification as "Tricycle 1 (T1) is for athletes with severe locomotor dysfunction and insufficient balance for cycling." In 1997, this classification was defined by

Alison Gray Alison Mary Gray (11 March 1943 – 1 September 2021) was a New Zealand writer and social researcher. She wrote 11 books, ranging from feminist oral histories to novels and children's books. Gray established a social policy research consultancy ...

in ''Against the odds : New Zealand Paralympians'' as: tetraplegic - almost no use of trunk, arms and hands". Gray noted this classification was for wheelchair athletes. ''The Telegraph'' defined this classification in 2011 as "T 1-2: Athletes on tricycles, who have severe locomotive dysfunctions and limited ability to pedal"

Disability groups

File:CP1 disability profile.png, Disability type for CP1 classified sportspeople File:CP2 disability profile.png, Disability type for CP2 classified sportspeople File:CP3 disability profile.png, Disability type for CP3 classified sportspeople File:CP4 disability profile.png, Disability type for CP4 classified sportspeople The class includes people with cerebral palsy. CP1 to CP4 competitors may compete in the T1 class. Tricycles are only eligible to compete in road events, not track ones. Cyclists with in this class are required to wear a helmet, with a special color used to designate their class. Male T1 competitors wear black helmets; T1 women wear blue helmets.

Classification history

Cycling first became a Paralympic sport at the

1988 Summer Paralympics The 1988 Summer Paralympics () were the first Paralympics in 24 years to take place in the same city as the Olympic Games. They took place in Seoul, South Korea. This was the first time the term "Paralympic" was used officially. Bidding pro ...

. In September 2006, governance for para-cycling, including the responsibility for classification, passed from the International Paralympic Committee's International Cycling Committee to UCI.

Becoming classified

Classification is handled by

Union Cycliste Internationale The ''Union Cycliste Internationale'' (UCI; ; en, International Cycling Union) is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland. The UCI issues raci ...

. Classification for the UCI Para-Cycling World Championships is completed by at least two classification panels. Members of the classification panel must not have a relationship with the cyclist and must not be involved in the World Championships in any other role than as classifier. In national competitions, the classification is handled by the national cycling federation. Classification often has three components: physical, technical and observation assessment.

Events

At the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...

, events for this classification include T 1-2 Road Race and Mixed T 1-2 Time Trial.

Rankings

This classification has UCI rankings for elite competitors.

References

{{Para-cycling classifications Para-cycling classification Parasports classifications