Saturday, November 18th, 2023.- Para Road Cycling, Para Track Cycling, and Para Athletics are three of the sports set to feature prominently at Santiago 2023, with their development promising to be very compelling. 

PARA ROAD CYCLING 

The race involves a route through the city, with athletes divided into categories corresponding to a letter and number based on the type of bicycle they use (they can also be identified by the color of their helmet) and the degree of disability. 

B is for the tandem bicycle (two people), C for the conventional bicycle with adaptation if necessary, T for tricycle, and H for handcycle. The number ranges from 1 to 5, from lower to higher according to the degree of disability. 

The contested events include the road race, individual time trial, and team relay on handcycles. 

PARA TRACK CYCLING 

The events in Para track cycling, held in a velodrome, include individual pursuit, ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 meters, and time trial, from 500m to one kilometer. 

The sport class is denoted with a letter and a number similar to Para road cycling. C is for a conventional bicycle with adaptation, and the number corresponds to the degree of disability. Classifications range from C1 to C5, indicating impairments in the lower limbs. 

There is also tandem competition for people with visual impairments (B1 and B2). 

The format of the events is the same as in conventional cycling. In the time trial, athletes compete against the clock, with the female category covering 500 meters (two laps of the track) and the male category covering one kilometer (four laps). 

In the individual pursuit, competitors start on opposite sides of the track, trying to catch up with their opponent over 3 km (12 laps) or 4 km (16 laps). 

PARA ATHLETICS 

It is the largest sport within the Paralympic movement and one of the most extensive in terms of the number of athletes from different sport classes. 

Depending on the mode of participation, athletes are assigned the letter T for track and jump events and F for field events. They are also given a two-digit number that refers to the type and degree of intellectual, physical, and/or visual impairment, as appropriate. 

Competing modalities include seated and standing throws, wheelchair and foot races, long jump, and high jump. 

Written by Alejandro Pérez; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Ph: Sebastián Nanco / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport