Austin Killips wins Tour of the Gila, New Mexico's premier road race Photo: Tour of the Gila
Top British cyclists The Telegraph Sport understands that they are afraid to oppose the policy of transgender people in sports for fear of being canceled and losing sponsorship contracts.
Insiders also describe a mood of “fear and hate”; among the hierarchy of the International Cycling Union [UCI], who are said to be once again at odds over a potential tightening of entry rules. Seething frustration among riders, as well as legislators, comes amid renewed concern over women's categories following the biggest win by a transgender driver in women's racing to date.
Austin Killips Women's First Prize at the Tour of the Gila race in New Mexico, prompted immediate calls to rethink the rules, developed just last year.
To increase pressure on the authorities to continue their restrictions, campaigners are now calling on male and female cyclists to come together to protest the “incredible misogyny.” However, several elite competitors admit privately that they are intimidated by the potential repercussions. “The reason why women just don’t refuse to start is because we have so few opportunities and so few sponsors that we don’t want to miss a single opportunity,” said one of the leading participants, who declined to be named.
British Cycling has been analyzing the situation for over a year now and is believed to be considering going beyond the UCI and introducing a ban on domestic competition.
One of the key advocates for better protection in women's sport is British Cycling's head of Olympic programs Sarah Symington, who last year was among the signatories of a letter to the UCI demanding that the body “guarantee fairness for female athletes”" .
Maria Blower, who represented the UK when women cyclists were first allowed to compete in the 1984 Olympics, says athletes as well as administrators can't agree on the sport's best course of action because the mood is so toxic.
“There are divisions within the UCI.” She said. “We know that someone is on our side, and someone is clearly not. I know a lot of scared girls who are racing now. They don't want to be bullied or considered fanatics. That's why they smile on the catwalk. Everyone is confused – we are all angry, but while we sit idly by, desperately worried, nothing is being done.
Cyclists must act. or risk losing a women's sport.
While swimming and athletics have effectively barred athletes who have reached male puberty from competing in women's elite competitions, the UCI has only partially tightened its rules for the participation of trans women in the women's category.
< p>A year ago, the legal testosterone level was reduced from five nanomoles per liter to 2.5 nmol/l, which led to the fact that British cyclist Emily Bridges could not take part in the British national omnium championship.
But the victory Killips at the Tour of the Gila, New Mexico's premier road race, sparked warnings that women could miss out on medals at the Olympics because the rules aren't strict enough.
On Tuesday, Sharron Davis, sports scientist Ross Tucker and Emma Hilton, developmental biologist and co-founder of Sex Matters, led a new chorus of criticism of UCI politicians. Davies, a British 1980 Olympic silver medalist in swimming and a strong advocate for the protection of women's categories in all sports, told Telegraph Sport that there is now a strong need for a “visual protest”. from male and female athletes.
“I really think that now cyclists, both men and women in particular, need to start acting together, otherwise they will lose their sport.” she added. “The misogyny shown is staggering in the face of all the scientific evidence and, after what both World Athletics and aquatics have done, shows a complete contempt for their female cyclists around the world.”
Tucker, who hosts the Science of Sports podcast, also suggested that cycling is on a slippery slope. “Thanks to the abdication of its leaders, the sport will move from the “instant” to the other.” until 'moment' until enough people accept biological reality and respect women's rights" He said. “Then swimming, now cycling. The only question is, does cycling realize this time or do we need more moments?"
A year ago, Bridges, a Welsh cyclist, was not allowed to compete in the British National Omnium Championship at the 11th hour due to boycott threats from other riders. If Bridges had raced at the Derby, she would have met the lady Laura Kenny. Bridges subsequently told DIVA magazine that the claim that trans women in sports retain inherent advantages was wrong and stated that he could prove it. ” /> Emily Bridges was not allowed to compete against Dame Laura Kenny at the National Omnium Championship last year
Appointed UCI Medical Director in 2018, Xavier Bigard is believed to have played a key role in setting the rules of cycling last year. Hilton suggested on Twitter that her own thoughts on including transgender people in women's sports were overlooked. She wrote: “Have I told anyone about how the UCI medical director told me that I didn’t understand the science he stands for?”
The UCI statement says: “UCI rules are based on the latest scientific knowledge and applied consistently. The UCI continues to monitor the evolution of scientific discovery and may change its rules in the future as scientific knowledge develops."
This year, the Tour of Gila is held as part of the event for the first time. A 36-year history of equal prize money being offered, with a total prize pool of $35,350 (£28,145) in both men's and women's races. Killips, who only started cycling in 2019 before starting hormone replacement therapy, earned nearly £8,000 finishing first overall in the women's standings, plus an £800 bonus as 'Queen of the Mountains'. .
In response, Blower said she agreed with Inga Thompson, a three-time U.S. Olympian and five-time national road race champion, who told Telegraph Sport, “Austin is the bike equivalent of Leah Thomas.” Thomas won the U.S. Collegiate 200-yard freestyle championship last year, finishing 554th in the nation in the men's equivalent category. "At least this situation will get everyone talking" Blower added.
The name Killips first gained attention in March, after former cyclo-cross champion Hannah Arensman cited it in a Supreme Court statement explaining why she retired at 24. lost to Killips on the podium in the national final in December, later accusing her transgender rival of pushing her repeatedly during the race, a claim Killips denied. cycling team in Paris next summer if the UCI, the global governing body, keeps its policy.
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