A goal can be scored without ever stepping off a bicycle. In cycle-ball, also called radball, two teams of two players face each other. One usually concentrates on guarding the goal and the other on attacking, though they can exchange roles. Players guide and shoot the ball with the front or rear wheel, and may also use their heads. Inside the penalty area, a goalkeeper may use their hands to stop the ball.
The court measures 14 by 11 metres and the goal is two metres wide and high. A match lasts 14 minutes, divided into two seven-minute halves. Players must remain on their bicycles: after touching the floor with a foot, a player has to go behind their own goal line before rejoining play. Balance is therefore as essential as a well-placed shot.
A cycle-ball bicycle has a short wheelbase, reinforced frame and fixed gear. It can be held almost motionless, then ridden rapidly forwards or backwards. World championships in the discipline have been held since 1930, and a women’s tournament has been part of the championship programme since 2023. On this small court, a change of possession can become an attack in an instant.