Spectator Info

Spectator Info

The 2026 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships will be in Huntsville September 4-7, and this exciting event is FREE to attend! No tickets are needed. Bring the family, pack a cooler, bring chairs and a blanket, and come watch along the outside ring of Explorer Boulevard, the loop of Cummings Research Park West.

NOTE: You will not be able to use Explorer Boulevard – that is the main race route. We suggest you come in and watch the races at one of these three places:

Columbia High School
300 Explorer Blvd. NW, Huntsville, AL 35806

This is where the start/finish line is located, and where you’ll see the most activity. The awards stage is also very close by, behind HudsonAlpha. You can walk there to watch the awards ceremonies – they are quite fun!

Suggested route: Come in on Slaughter Road (either from Hwy 72 to the north or Hwy 20 to the south) and drive to Farrow Road, then heads toward Explorer. Turn in the back entrance to Columbia before you get to Explorer. You can park behind the school (production trucks and some teams will be parked towards the front). Walk to the front, and you’ll see race activity.

Auburn University Applied Research Institute
345 Voyager Way NW, Huntsville, AL 35806

Accessible Parking & Viewing

This lot is reserved for wheelchair accessible viewing. There will also be an ADA restroom located at the accessible viewing area. Suggested route: Take Old Madison Pike to Voyager Way, and turn left into Auburn’s parking lot.

Leidos Dynetics, Main
1002 Explorer Blvd. NW, Huntsville, AL 35806

To access this area, take Hwy 72 to Enterprise Way and turn in just past Rime Village Way, then right into Leidos. The rest of Enterprise Way will be closed because it is part of the Road Race course on Sept. 6-7.

What to look for in the races

Individual Time Trials are Friday & Saturday, Sept. 4-5. Road Races are Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6-7, with the exciting Men's & Women's Mixed Handcycle Team Relay finishing off the races on Sept. 7. You are welcome to join us any day, but we especially encourage spectators to come out on Sunday and Monday, the Road Race days.

Individual Time Trial (September 4-5)

This is a race against the clock! Cyclists leave the starting line one at a time, about a minute apart. This is referred to as “the race of truth.” Each athlete completes the designated course, and the rider with the fastest time in their classification wins. For spectators, riders pass by individually rather than as one large group.

Road Race (September 6-7)

This is the more traditional cycling race. Riders within a classification line up at the starting line together and race directly against one another. The first rider across the finish line wins. For spectators, you'll see groups of cyclists, drafting, and sometimes individual breakaways.

Types of Cycles

Athletes use five different types of cycles to race:

Handcycle (2 types): These riders compete using an arm-powered or arm trunk power hand bike from a recumbent position. In another type of handcycling, athletes compete from a kneeling position. You will see both types at the Huntsville event. In the event schedule – these are classified as H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5. H1 athletes are classified as the most impaired, and H5 athletes are classified as the least impaired.

Tricycle: The third wheel on these cycles helps the rider with balance. Some of these athletes may have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. In the event schedule – these are classified with the letter T.

Bicycle: Riders compete with a standard bicycle and are classified between C1-C5.

Tandem Cycle: Able-bodied pilot sits in front with a stoker in the back who has some degree of visual impairment. The stoker provides the power and speed while the pilot’s main job is to steer. These are classified with the letter B.

: Handcycle

: Handcycle

: Tricycle

: Bicycle

: Tandem Cycle

Cheer on Team USA!

Team USA will be here! We encourage you to make posters or bring flags to wave. Noisemakers are welcome too, such as cowbells and vuvuzelas.

If you’re having an event with your company, wear your company shirts and post your support on social media with the hashtags #HSVParaWorlds and #Paracycling, and tag us:

Facebook.com/Huntsville2026Worlds
Instagram.com/huntsville2026worlds
Facebook.com/CRPHSV
Instagram.com/crphsv