The UCI delivered three development programmes in Chiang Mai, Thailand, earlier this year, empowering classifiers, coaches and Para athletes as part of its efforts to strengthen Para cycling in Asia.
Using funding from an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Sport for Mobility grant, the UCI organised, in partnership with the Thai Para Cycling Association, a national classifier Course, Level 2 Para cycling coach course, and a Para cycling training camp for Para athletes in the run-up to March’s UCI Para Cycling World Cup.
The three development programmes brought together 28 participants from 14 nations: Bangladesh, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal, Palestine, Pakistan, Philippines Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
UCI Para Cycling Manager Todd Fraser said: “These development programmes play a key role in strengthening Para cycling. By training classifiers, coaches and athletes, we are helping to build sustainable structures and expand opportunities for the specialty’s stakeholders. This work is particularly important in regions where access to structured support and international competition remains limited, ensuring that emerging cycling nations can participate and progress in Para cycling.
“By linking these programmes with the first-ever UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup in Asia we ensured that participants had the opportunity to immediately apply what they learned in a high-level competition setting. With the funds provided through the IPC Sport for Mobility grant, nations many of the nations were able to send a participant to a UCI development programme for the first time ever.”
The UCI delivered three development programmes in Thailand, bringing together 28 participants from 14 nations. @Stephen Burke
The National Classifier Course involved nine participants from seven different countries. During the two-day course, participants learned more about the history, purpose and stages of classification evaluation and sport class allocation. Two Para athletes from the Thai national team volunteered to take part in mock classification evaluation so that the participants could benefit from practical experience.
The Para cycling coaching course brought together 12 selected coaches and team managers. Following their completion of the Level 1 course online through the UCI World Cycling Centre’s Moodle platform, selected participants attended the Level 2 course. The course focused on strengthening their technical and strategic competencies, with sessions covering athlete development pathways, training adaptation according to impairment types, competition preparation, and overall athlete management within a high-performance para sport environment.
Alongside the other two development programmes, a Para cycling training camp took place in the build-up to the World Cup event welcoming 7 athletes, including four women. The six-day camp focused on developing their technical and tactical skills in preparation for the round of the UCI World Cup.
The product of a grant agreement with the Toyota Mobility Foundation, the IPC Sport for Mobility programme has been designed to offer tailored and targeted initiatives that meet IPC member organisations where they are. Launched in 2025, 14 customised initiatives are advancing Para sport globally, benefiting all IPC member organisations.
The Sport Technical Training initiative as part of Sport for Mobility aims to support International Federations grow the pool of coaches, classifiers and technical officials in their respective sports. In 2025, the IPC provided grants to 22 International Federations across 26 sports to deliver targeted training programmes.