British Cycling have banned transgender women from racing in the female category at all events to ‘safeguard the fairness of competition’.
The national governing body’s new policy ends transgender rider Emily Bridges’ dream of competing for Great Britain or Wales in women’s races and puts pressure on the sport’s international federation, the UCI, to strengthen their own rules.
British Cycling will change their current men’s category to an ‘open’ category, where transgender women can compete against other male-born riders, while the female category will be reserved for those who were female at birth.
The new policy relates to all competitive activity – any race or event involving timing, ranking or prizes – and will come into force in full by the end of this year. Transgender women will still be allowed to ride with women in non-competitive cycling settings, such as the Breeze community programme.
In an Instagram post, Bridges hit out at British Cycling for their handling of the issue, and said that she was fed up with the conversation being dictated ‘on their terms, and being controlled by them’.