From being born a man… to Queen of the Mountains: Trans cyclist romps to victory in women’s race

Cycling’s transgender regulations have come underneath hearth after a male-born rider received a global girls’s street race over the weekend.

Transgender lady Austin Killips secured general victory in the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, USA – an elite race sanctioned through the recreation’s global governing frame, the UCI. 

The 27-year-old American completed 89 seconds transparent of Italian Marcela Prieto in the common classification and likewise claimed the Queen of the Mountains jersey.

Killips used to be in a position to compete in the feminine box underneath the UCI’s present coverage, which permits trans girls to take part so long as their testosterone ranges had been under 2.5 nanomoles in step with litre for no less than 24 months.

The UCI in truth tightened their eligibility regulations final yr – halving the testosterone prohibit and doubling the transition length – in a while after a row erupted in Britain over the conceivable participation of Welsh trans lady Emily Bridges in a race with five-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Kenny.

Transgender lady Austin Killips received the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, USA over the weekend

Killips received the women’s race and claimed £28,145 in prize cash for taking first position

But biking’s participation coverage stays extra at ease than that of athletics and swimming, the place all trans girls are banned from competing in the feminine class at an elite stage.

Commenting on the Killips case, former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies advised Mail Sport: ‘This is beyond disappointing. Those in charge should hang their heads in shame. The UCI is not fit for purpose.’

Ex-Canadian global champion cyclist Alison Sydor tweeted: ‘The current UCI rules that allow males to compete in female cycling events are not fair to female athletes.

‘Time for UCI to admit this current rule situation is unsustainable and leaving a black mark on cycling as a fair sport for females.’

Killips rides for the Amy D Foundation – a staff shaped in reminiscence of former American skilled cyclist Amy Dombroski, who died elderly 26 in 2013, with the intention of selling ‘participation, opportunity and equity for women in cycling’.

After profitable the Tour of the Gila, Killips wrote on Instagram: ‘This win was possible thanks to the community and connections I’ve been fortunate enough to build over the years through bikes.

‘After a week of nonsense on the internet I’m especially thankful to everyone in the peloton and sport who continue to affirm that Twitter is not real life.

‘I love my peers and competitors and am grateful for every opportunity I get to learn and grow as a person and athlete on course together.’

Former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies (pictured) has slammed the resolution to let Killips compete

Killips (pictured) rides for the Amy D Foundation which used to be set-up in reminiscence of American skilled cyclist Amy Dombroski

Killips used to be the matter of controversy final December when she completed 3rd at the USA’s National Cyclocross Championships and used to be additionally accused of pushing any other competitor off direction.

Hannah Arensman, a 35-time winner on the cyclocross circuit, completed fourth in that race and later retired from the recreation bringing up the emergence of transgender riders.

She stated: ‘Over the past few years, I have had to race directly with male cyclists in women’s occasions.

‘As this has become more of a reality, it has become increasingly discouraging to train as hard as I do only to have to lose to a man with the unfair advantage of an androgenized body that intrinsically gives him an obvious advantage over me, no matter how hard I train.’