In an effort to preserve the fairness of the sport, British Cycling has recently announced its decision to prohibit transgender women from competing in the female

category. This move marks the end of cyclist Emily Bridges' aspirations to represent Britain in women's competitions. The decision comes after a nine-month consultation and a comprehensive review of the latest scientific research.

Under the newly implemented rules, which have faced criticism from Bridges, the men's division will be replaced by an "open category" that will now encompass transgender men, transgender women, and non-binary individuals. However, the "female category" will remain reserved for individuals assigned female at birth in all forms of competition, ranging from grassroots to elite levels.

Similar to the policies of UK Athletics and Swim England, this new approach will also apply to all competitive events sanctioned by British Cycling, including those involving timings, rankings, points, prizes, and selections for the Great Britain cycling team.

This decision is expected to be well-received by many of the top female riders in the country. Last year, several of these riders threatened to boycott the British National Omnium Championships unless Bridges was deemed ineligible by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to compete in the female category, as she was still registered as a male cyclist at the time.

The boycott stemmed from concerns that 22-year-old Bridges, who was previously part of the Great Britain academy program as a male cyclist until 2020, maintained an unfair advantage after transitioning.

British Cycling now shares this viewpoint. In a statement explaining the policy change, the governing body referred to research studies indicating that transgender women who transition after puberty, even with testosterone suppression, still retain a performance advantage.

Despite these measures, British Cycling has assured trans and non-binary individuals that they will still have opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities under the new policy, including club and coach-led events, community programs, and non-competitive events such as sportives.

Jon Dutton, CEO of British Cycling, expressed confidence in the developed policies, emphasizing their aim to maintain fairness in competitive cycling while ensuring inclusivity and equal opportunities for all riders.

The governing body also issued an apology to transgender athletes for the delay in formulating a new policy after suspending the previous one. The prolonged period of uncertainty left athletes like Bridges in limbo. British Cycling acknowledged the impact this suspension had on trans and non-binary individuals and expressed regret for the distress caused during this time.

"Our goal in establishing these policies has always been to advance and promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, while prioritizing fair competition. This objective remains unchanged," the statement read.

Bridges, in response to the policy change, expressed her dismay, referring to it as a "violent act." She accused British Cycling of being a "failed organization" and criticized its financial associations and involvement in culture wars. Bridges emphasized the need for nuanced policy discussions and continued research in the field, expressing uncertainty about her future participation in cycling.

British Cycling's announcement comes in the wake of a recent controversy surrounding transgender athletes in the sport. Austin Killips, an American cyclist, became the first transgender athlete to win a UCI women's stage race, reigniting the transgender debate within the sport. The UCI has acknowledged the concerns raised by female athletes regarding unfair competition and has stated its intention to reconsider its transgender policy, with an announcement expected in August.

As it stands, transgender women remain eligible to compete in UCI international events provided they meet the testosterone level requirements. This means that for UCI-organized events held in Britain, such as the Track Nations Cup or the Women's Tour, the current UCI transgender policy on eligibility will take precedence. Photo by Geof Sheppard, Wikimedia commons.