2026 PARACYCLING ROAD NATIONALS
Event Website | Rider Information | Start Lists | Live Timing presented by Jack Mason
Paracycling Road
Team USA
About Paracycling Road
Paracycling road is one of the premier disciplines in the Paralympic Games, featuring individual time trials, road races, and the mixed-gender handcycling team relay. It made its Paralympic debut at the New York/Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games and has remained a key event in every Games since. For each event, athletes are classified into specific impairment groups to ensure fair and competitive racing.
Road Race
A mass-start event where all riders within a classification group start together. Races typically take place on looped, long-distance courses. The first rider to cross the finish line wins.
Time Trial
Known as a TT, this is a race against the clock. Riders start individually or in tandem pairs at set intervals. The athlete or pair with the fastest time wins the event.
Impairment Groups
There are four different impairment groups for road cycling: Tandem, Cycling, Handcycle, and Tricycle. Each group includes a range of classifications, from 1 (most impaired) to 5 (least impaired), based on functional ability.
- Tandem (B1-3) - For athletes with a vision impairment. The pilot (sighted rider) will always be on the front, with the stoker (visually impaired rider) on the back.
- Cycling (C1-5): For athletes with impaired range of movement or coordination impairments that ride a standard two wheeled bicycle.
- Handcycle (H1-5): For athletes using an arm/ arm trunk power handcycle in either the recumbent or kneeling/sitting position.
- Tricycle (T1-2): For athletes who are unable to bicycle due to a lack of balance and/or severe restriction with pedaling due to coordination impairment.
Classification
Athletes with amputations, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries/stroke or visual impairments are all eligible to compete in paracycling. In order to compete, you must first be classified.
Official classifications are usually conducted at international UCI/IPC sanctioned events. However, preliminary classifications can be performed at the National Championships or an appointment is made to meet with an IPC qualified physician. At these preliminary meetings, a full medical history is required for review. To learn more about classification, click here.
What is the National Team Designation?
USA Cycling is responsible for supporting and guiding athletes capable of winning Olympic & Paralympic medals, while also identifying, recruiting and developing future Games athletes. Our vision is to be amongst the very best in the world at talent identification, athlete development, management and preparation in all cycling disciplines. The National Team Designation is considered a critical means for achieving this vision. The support provided through the program seeks to offset some of the expenses associated with preparing for and participating in international sport. The program aims to support and assist athletes with the greatest potential to win medals at the Olympic & Paralympic Games and World Championships.
To learn more about the National Team Designation Criteria and Support, click here.
MEET THE TEAM
UCI Pan American Paracycling Road Continental Championships
February 28 - March 1, 2026
Indaiatuba, Brazil
Paracycling Road World Cups
2026
March 17-22, 2026: Chaing Mai, THA
April 28 - May 1, 2026: Middelkerke, BEL
May 7-10, 2026: Abbruzzo, ITA
For the most up-to-date information, please visit: UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup
Paracycling Road World Championships
September 4-7, 2026
Huntsville, Alabama
For the most up-to-date information, please visit: UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships
Chris
Furber
Senior Director Paracycling
Background
Chris Furber leads all Paracycling operations for USA Cycling, bringing a deep and proven record of success across multiple Paralympic sports. His career includes serving as Performance Director for Paddle UK (Paracanoe and Canoe Sprint) and UK Para Swimming, as well as Head Coach for British Cycling’s Para-Cycling program. Across these roles, Furber guided teams through five Paralympic Games, including the home Games in London in 2012, and 17 World Championships. Earlier in his tenure with British Cycling, he also contributed as a Talent Identification Coach and held administrative roles supporting the Mountain Bike and BMX programs, giving him a broad, systems-level perspective on athlete development and high-performance pathways.
Jim
Lehman
Para-Cycling Road & Track National Team Head Coach
Background
With over 22 years of experience in para-cycling, Lehman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to USA Cycling. He has led Team USA at five Paralympic Games, 13 World Championships and is a 7-time recipient of the Order of Ikkos medal. Lehman earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Villanova University, and his graduate degree in Exercise Science from Northern Arizona University.
Mike
Durner
National Team Pathways Coach – Para-Cycling Road & Track
Background
Mike is a USAC Level 1 Coach and NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach, who started racing mountain bikes at age 13 and raced on the NORBA circuit while in high school.
Following high school, he went on to study exercise science at the University of Northern Colorado and then spent four years serving as an officer in the U.S. Army. Following his time in the Army, Mike pursued a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at Kansas State University.
He began coaching in 2006 and started working with the previous iteration of the Para Cycling National Team in 2010. From 2010 through 2015 he worked full time for the National Team, covering road and track athletes and events.
From 2017 through 2025, Mike was a part time National Team Coach for Para Cycling with more road focus. During this time, he also formed and grew his own coaching business.
He has earned the privilege of coaching at 3 Paralympic Games and is eager to contribute to the formation of a successful team for LA28.
Jim
Miller
Chief of Sport Performance
Background
A successful professional cyclist in his own right, Jim coached several cyclists on the side and eventually retired from racing in 1999 to focus solely on his flourishing coaching career. After developing several notable cyclists, he originally came to USA Cycling to run the women’s road program in 2002. After earning Coach of the Year distinctions from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2003 & 2004, Jim was promoted to director of endurance programs, overseeing the development of American junior, U23, and women endurance athletes in road and track cycling. After making significant strides toward the USA Cycling National Development Program’s goal of developing the next generation of American cyclists, he was named Vice President of Athletics in 2010. In 2017, Jim left USA Cycling to become the Vice President of Business Development for Training Peaks. Unable to resist the Olympic call, he returned to USA Cycling in 2020 as the Chief of Sport Performance. He has earned the International Olympic Committee’s highest honor for coaches, the Order of Ikkos, three times, all for coaching 3-time Olympic Champion Kristen Armstrong to victory.
