Cycling is one of the flagship sports within the Virtus programme. Road and track events are contested at the Virtus World Championships, Regional Championships, and the Virtus Global Games.

Virtus is responsible for determining the eligibility of all cyclists wishing to compete in its events. All athletes registered on the Virtus Master List have a recognised intellectual impairment.

Virtus organises World and Regional (continental) Championships (Europe, Asia-Oceania, etc.) for athletes with an intellectual impairment on standard cycling courses and also maintains the official records for the sport.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the international governing body for cycling. Virtus cycling competitions are conducted under UCI regulations, with approved Virtus amendments where applicable.

Athletes wishing to compete at the highest level should first contact their National Federation.

History

Cycling has been part of the Virtus sports programme for many years and has been included in the Virtus Global Games since 2009, when the event was first held in the Czech Republic.

Virtus has regularly organised World Cycling Championships as well as cycling competitions at the Global Games:

• INAS Global Games Italy 2011
• INAS Global Games Ecuador 2015 (Individual Time Trial, Team Time Trial, Road Race)
• Virtus Global Games Brisbane 2019 (Individual Time Trial, Team Time Trial, Road Race, with the introduction of Track Cycling events)

Recent editions include:

• 2016 Virtus World Championships in Račice, Czech Republic
• 2017 Virtus World Championships, held alongside the European Junior Cycling Tour in Assen, Netherlands
• 2018 Virtus World Championships, organised as part of the Virtus European Games in Paris, France

Since 2023, Virtus has expanded its international cycling calendar through major competitions and development events. France hosted the 2023 Virtus Global Games cycling events, with road races in Vichy and track cycling at the Bourges Velodrome, while also launching the Virtus Open Cycling Time Trial in Roybon-Chambaran, which returned in 2024 and 2026. In 2024, Virtus introduced the Virtus Cycling World Series, with events in Ballarat and Perth (2025), alongside a second Northern Hemisphere event. The cycling calendar continues to grow in 2026 with the inaugural Virtus Open Parapanne Cycling Days in De Panne, Belgium, featuring an Individual Time Trial and Road Race.

Today, our athletes are ready to compete at the highest level. Their ambition is to take part in UCI Para-cycling competitions and, ultimately, to fulfil their dream of competing at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Paralympic Games.

The Virtus Cycling programme features both road and track competitions. Road events include short- and long-distance road races, individual and team time trials, as well as sportives. Track events include the 200 m sprint, team sprint, kilometre (men) / 500 m (women) time trial, individual pursuit, and scratch race.

A list of upcoming events can be found here.

Disciplines

Road Events

• Road Race – Distances ranging from 15 km to 80 km, depending on the competition class.
• Individual Time Trial – Distances ranging from 5 km to 20 km, depending on the competition class.
• Team Time Trial – Distances ranging from 5 km to 20 km, depending on the competition class.

Track Events (Velodrome)

• 200 m Sprint (standing start)
• Team Sprint – 3 laps, teams of three riders
• Individual Pursuit
  • Men: 4 km
  • Women: 3 km
  • Junior Men: 3 km
  • Junior Women: 2 km
• Time Trial
  • Men: 1,000 m
  • Women: 500 m
• Scratch Race
  • Men: 15 km
  • Women: 10 km
  • Junior Men: 10 km
  • Junior Women: 7.5 km
• Omnium (3-event competition)
  • 200 m Sprint
  • Individual Pursuit
  • 1,000 m / 500 m Time Trial

Rules and Regulations

All competitions are conducted in accordance with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Regulations, with modifications approved by Virtus. Specific adaptations are made to accommodate athletes with intellectual impairment. For example, any electronic device with a display, such as a cycle computer or power meter, must be covered so that the rider cannot read the display during track events.

The involvement and approval of the relevant National Cycling Federation are required for all Virtus Championship events.

Championship competitions are held over five competition days, with additional days allocated for arrival, training, and departure.

Member Organisations may enter up to three athletes per event. An event will be considered valid if at least three eligible athletes from two different Member Organisations are entered.

The full Virtus Cycling Sport Rules and Championship Regulations can be found here (Section 7.4).

Results

Results from all Virtus World and Regional Cycling Championships are available here.

Virtus Cycling Committee

Chair – Gilles Richiero

• Oceania – Louise Jones (Australia)
• Asia – Avtar Singh (India)
• Europe – Philippe Com (France)
• Americas – Vacant
• Africa –Vacant

Links

• Upcoming events
• Results database
• Sport and event specification and rules