Para-cycling Classification in the Bicycle and Tricycle Divisions: A Delphi Study

The current classification system in para-cycling needs to be investigated in order to comply with requirements of the International Paralympic Committee of providing evidence-based classification in all Paralympic sports. The aim was to investigate consensus on issues within the current para-cycling classification system and identify future research priorities within para-cycling classification.

Three rounds of online questionnaires were sent to an international expert-panel (n=51, representing six continents) consisting of para-cyclists (n=27, 52.9%), para-cycling coaches and team managers (n=5, 9.8%), classifiers (n=8, 15.7%), para-sport researchers (n=5, 9.8%), and other roles in para-cycling (n=6, 11.7%). Each new round was based on the responses of the previous round.

Consensus was reached on the following main issues: adjust current muscle strength assessment in classification (76%), redefine the minimum impairment criteria for the lower (97%) and upper (76%) body, athletes cycling with one leg should compete separately from athletes cycling with two legs (81%), athletes with musculoskeletal impairments should compete separately from athletes with coordination impairments (77%).

The panel's views revealed directions to revise the para-cycling classification system, and that future para-cycling research should focus on leg muscle strength assessments, upper-body impairments, and the cut-off between bicycling and tricycling (C and T-divisions).