Cybathlon 2024: Team BFH-CybaTrike participates in a test race

A little more than a year before the third Cybathlon event at the end of October 2024, Team BFH-CybaTrike with pilot Julien Jouffroy took part in a first official test race. The test showed that the technology is ready. Now it is up to the pilot to strengthen his muscles with regular training.

Movement through electrical muscle stimulation

In 2024, the BFH-CybaTrike team, led by Kenneth Hunt, is taking part in the Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race at the Cybathlon for the third time. The CybaTrike is a recumbent trike that people with complete paralysis of the lower limbs can propel by their own muscle power. This involves attaching electrodes to the skin, which conduct electrical impulses to the paralysed leg muscles to activate them. The level of stimulation and the degree of activation is controlled by the pilot via a throttle on the handlebars.

Competition with stationary recumbent bike

In 2020, the Cybathlon took place virtually due to the coronavirus and the athletes in the Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race completed the race on a stationary trainer. This concept will be used again for the 2024 event, so that teams from all over the world can compete without having to travel to Zurich. The next appearance of Team BFH-CybaTrike will be at the Cybathlon Challenges on 2 February 2024.