Cycling News

British Cycling officially bans transgender cyclists from competing in women’s races

People are very upset at British Cycling for partnering with Shell

On Friday, British Cycling announced it will implement a policy that restricts transgender women from participating in female category bike races. The policy states that only individuals who were assigned female at birth will be allowed to compete. This decision comes after a nine-month review conducted by the federation. The resolution also follows several very public debates after American Austin Killips, a transgender cyclist, recently won the Tour of the Gila. Killips transitioned in 2019 and, following the win, was the subject of a flurry of vitriol on social media.

New category created by British Cycling

In April 2022, British athlete Emily Bridges, who is transgender, was not allowed to compete on the track at the British National Championships in an 11th-hour decision. When this occurred, Bridges was confused as to why the move was made, and the federation did not offer much in the way of an explanation.

The updated policy by British Cycling prevents individuals who were not assigned female at birth from participating in women’s races. As a result, trans women will now only be able to race in a newly established “open” category of races, which encompasses the current men’s category. In a statement, British Cycling laid out the new rules.

British cyclist Emily Bridges reacts to decision

“Transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals, and those whose sex was assigned male at birth will be eligible to compete in the ‘open’ category,” the statement read. “The ‘female’ category will remain in place for those whose sex was assigned female at birth and transgender men who are yet to begin hormone therapy. At this stage, they will be eligible to compete in the ‘open’ category only.”

Bridges posted on Instagram about the decision. “British Cycling is a failed organization. The racing scene is dying under your watch, and all you do is take money from petrochemical companies and engage in culture wars. You don’t care about making sport more diverse, you want to make yourself look better, and you’re even failing at that. Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you couldn’t care less.”

The changes to the regulations will begin in 2023. “Successful implementation of the policy will require a period of time to enact changes to our digital systems,” British Cycling confirmed. Until then, all current racing licenses will be valid.

British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton said…

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