Karissa Whitsell and Mackenzie Woodring (pilot) compete in Beijing Summer Paralympics on September 07, 2008
people standing and getting medals
Tandem cyclists get their medals at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
women holding medals
Australian tandem cyclists Terri Poole (right, vision impaired) and Sandra Smith (left, pilot for Terri) show off the gold medals they won in the 1km time trial and the 3km pursuit at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
tandem bicyclists on track
Australian cyclists Sandra Smith (pilot, on front) and Terri Poole (vision impaired, on back) race their tandem on their way to one of their two gold medals on the track at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games

Tandem is a para-cycling classification for cyclists that require a sighted pilot for a non-sighted rider. The UCI recommends this be coded as MB. PBS defined this group as "Athletes who are blind or visually impaired compete with no classification system. They ride tandem with a sighted “pilot.”"[1] The Telegraph defined this classification in 2011 as "B: Athletes who are blind and visually impaired" [2] British Cycling defines this classification as: "Blind or Visual Impaired (VI), TCB - from no light perception in either eye up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of less than 20 degrees. Classification assessed in the best eye with the best correction (i.e. all athletes who use contact or corrective lenses must wear them for classification, whether they intend to wear them in competition or not). Classification will be provided by a UCI accredited classifier"[3]

Classification history

Cycling first became a Paralympic sport at the 1988 Summer Paralympics.[4]

In September 2006, governance for para-cycling passed from the International Paralympic Committee's International Cycling Committee to UCI at a meeting in Switzerland. When this happened, the responsibility of classifying the sport also changed.[5]

Becoming classified

Classification is handled by Union Cycliste Internationale.[6] 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.[7] In national competitions, the classification is handled by the national cycling federation.[7] Classification often has three components: physical, technical and observation assessment.[7]

Records

Below are some historical world records for this classification in the 200m men's Indoor track / Flying start.[8]

Time Cyclist Country Classification Date and location Country location Reference
10"749 Kieran Modra AUS Blind Men 03.05.2003 DUNC GRAY, SYDNEY AUS [8]
10"316 Neil Fachie GBR Blind Men 08.11.2009 MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"777 Vladimir Alexandr Blind Men 08.09.1991 MOSCOW RUS [8]
10"721 Anthony Kappes GBR Blind Men 13.05.2005 NCC MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"604 Anthony Kappes GBR Blind Men 05.10.2005 NCC MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"597 Anthony Kappes GBR Blind Men 05.05.2006 NCC MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"411 Anthony Kappes GBR Blind Men 06.10.2006 NCC MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"410 Anthony Kappes GBR Blind Men 11.05.2007 NCC MANCHESTER GBR [8]
10"282 Neil Fachie GBR Blind Men 13.03.2011 MONTICHIARI ITA [8]

Rules

The sighted cyclist cannot be a professional cyclist in the past 12 months on any UCI pro tour with the exception of those over 40 years of age. The pair of cyclists must cycle in sync with each other.[2]

Rankings

This classification has UCI rankings for elite competitors.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Competition at the Highest Levels, Cycling". Cycling. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b "London 2012 Paralympics: Road cycling guide". London: The Telegraph. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-28. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  3. ^ "About Disability Cycling". London. 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  4. ^ Australian Paralympic Committee (2012). "Cycling". Archived from the original on 2016-08-14.
  5. ^ "Para-cycling High Performance". Australia: Cycling Australia. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Guide to the Paralympic Games – Appendix 1" (PDF). London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2011. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "UCI Para-cycling Classification Guide". UCI. 17 April 2012. p. 5.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Para-Cycling Track World Records Historical". UCI. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Ranking - PARA - Cycling 2012". Union Cycliste Internationale. June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
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