New rules have caused the paralympic cycling team much confusion and bewilderment recently. Many athletes and coaches are said to be confused as to the point of the new regulations.
The International cycling union have decided to combine disability classifications in at least seven events in the London 2012 olympics which means that Paralympic medal winners will be judged in relation to world records in those classes rather than on results alone.
Jody Cundy the British track cycling to time gold medallist said the new rules had left the British team feeling confused and that they would now be resorting to recording their fastest times in private. This seems quite strange to say the least and perhaps signals that the new rules are not going to work in the way they are required to.
It has been understood that the UK sport and Paralympics Great Britain will make a case for the UCI regarding this change.
It was on July 14th that the UCI decided to publish the changed road and track cycling conditions and the qualification criteria for the Paralympic games in London.
UCI paralympic coordinator Chantale Philie has responded saying that the new programme is, “is fairer for the athletes.” This has been met by furious denials. Jody Cundy who won three gold medals in swimming events in both Sydney and Athens before picking up cycling for Beijing strongly disagrees. “For a start, the UCI has combined the two most competitive classes in Paralympic cycling, C4 and C5, for the kilo,” he is reported to have said.
Cundy is quoted as stating that “They’ve brought in factoring relative to the world records, but all it will do is discriminate against me,”
Many people have suggested that the changes have made a mess out of a system that had been working without fault until now. Athletes have suggested that if they break their own records between now and the London 2012 games they will be making their job harder at the London games.
Disability aids can be found direct from quest 88. Whether it is crutches, adult walkers or wheelchairs quest88 have a wide range of products.