The 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup gets under way this week with the first round taking place in the Belgian coastal cities of Ostend and Bruges (1-4 May).
Round 2 will follow hot on its heels in Maniago, Italy, on May 15-18, with riders across tandem, cycle, handbike and tricycle sport classes not only aiming for the overall UCI World Cup standings, but also casting their minds ahead to August’s UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Ronse (Belgium).
Both venues in this year’s UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup return to the calendar after hosting rounds in 2024.
Packed start lists across the events
Provisional entry lists feature international stars including UCI World Champions and Paralympic Champions from the Paris 2024 Games. Among the 27 Men B (tandems) entrants are Vincent Ter Schure and pilot Timo Fransen (NED), who won both the individual time trial (ITT) and road race in Ostend last year and medalled in both in Paris. They will be up against the likes of fellow Dutchman Tristan Bangma – along with new pilot Brian Megens – who is reigning UCI World Champion and Paralympic Champion in both the road and ITT. The 14 female tandems include Paris 2024 silver medalist and reigning UCI World Champion Katie-George Dunlevy with her pilot Linda Kelly (IRL).
A truly world class field will also line up across all handbike sport classes, with 11 riders in H1, 16 in H2, a huge 59 competitors racing H3, 44 in H4 and 16 in H5, men and women combined. Collectively they represent 28 countries from all around the globe.
Meanwhile, 28 athletes are on the entry list for the men’s and women’s tricycle events (T1 and T2).
Ready to ignite the Belgian streets! 🇧🇪
— UCI Para-Cycling (@UCI_paracycling) April 17, 2025
In 2️⃣ weeks, the best #ParaCycling riders of the world will be taking on Ostend and Bruges for the first round of the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup. 🏆
We can't wait to see them all in action! 🔥#ParaWorldCup
The cycle events will also draw in the spectators as usual, with sizable support on the streets. The provisional start lists for the C5 classification, for example, includes 37 men and 14 women, representing 25 different nations – again, from all around the globe, from Australia to Argentina, from Canada to Korea, and many countries in between!
Riders to watch in this class include the men’s and women’s road race winners from the Ostend round of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup: Martin Van de Pol (NED) and Mariela Analia Delgado (ARG) respectively, as well as women’s ITT winner Alana Forster (AUS). Watch out also for the reigning men’s UCI World Champions in the ITT, Daniel Abraham (NED), and road race, Yehor Dementyev (UKR).
Likewise, the other four C sport classes also boast experienced riders, multiple champions and new contenders ready to make their mark on the top level of our sport.
Four days of action
The non-stop finals action starts with the individual time trials on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 May followed by the road races on Saturday 3 May (T and H classes) and Sunday 4 May (B and C).
The handbike mixed team relay will round out the competition in Belgium.
Time to wear the stripes! 🌈
— UCI Para-Cycling (@UCI_paracycling) April 25, 2025
Round 1️⃣ of the 2025 UCI #ParaCycling Road World Cup will give the UCI World Champions the opportunity to showcase their rainbow jerseys across Ostend and Bruges. 🇧🇪
More feats in the making? 🥇 #ParaWorldCup
Para-cycling sport classes
C – Cycle: conventional bike with adaptations if necessary
T – Tricycle: three-wheeled bike
B – Tandem: for visually impaired athletes with sighted pilot
H – Handcycle
Groups C (1-5), T (1-2) and H (1-5) are divided into different sport classes, with the lower the number indicating a higher level of impairment.