The British Cycling Federation bans trans women from participating in women’s races and changed the men’s division to an open division.
The women sitting in the stands held signs that read “Save women’s sports”. Emily Bridges was not allowed to participate in that competition event. PDO
On Friday, the British Cycling Association published a press release that sparked discussion. Starting next year, trans women who have started hormone treatments will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s cycling races under the federation.
BC Cycling Federation also decided that in the future, the racing series will be divided into a series intended for women and an open series, in which trans women who have received hormone treatments can participate.
Sky Sports reports that the change will have an impact in particular by Emily Bridges to a competitive career. Bridges said in 2020 that he was transgender. The news aroused interest, because two years earlier he had broken the British record in track cycling and the championship of the university series in the boys’ age group.
– I am trans. It feels really good to say it publicly. I’ve been hiding my true self for far too long, Bridges said on Instagram in 2020.
Bridges wanted to compete in the women’s track cycling championships, where she would face, among other things, a multiple Olympic champion Laura Kenny. The International Federation of Sports withdrew his participation, citing that Bridges was still registered as a male cyclist.
Model from another union
Emily Bridges started hormone treatments at the age of 20 in 2021. PDO
The British Cycling Association justifies its new decisions by promoting equality. The association’s press release states that a trans woman who changed gender after puberty gets an unfair advantage in competitions.
BC’s decision bears similarities to last year’s reform of the British Triathlon Federation. The triathlon association said it will create a series in which men, trans women and people of the opposite gender can participate.
Transgender participation has also been considered in the International Cycling Union. This spring, the association decided that trans women may not participate in women’s competitions if their testosterone limit exceeds 2.5 nanomoles per liter. Previously, the limit was half as much, i.e. 5.