Trans athletes take 1st and 2nd place in Chicago women’s cycling event
USA Cycling allows transgender participation for non-elite competition
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two transgender female cyclists dominated the podium at the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series last weekend after finishing first and second in a women’s event.
Tessa Johnson, 25, took home gold in the CX Women SingleSpeed event in the Jackson Park race on Oct. 8, after finishing with a time of 38:48, according to race results from USA Cycling.
Bikes on roof rack. (Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Evelyn Williamson, 30, came in second with a time of 40:20.
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According to the race results from USA Cycling, the third place finisher did not complete the fifth lap of the race as Johnson and Williamson did and finished with a time of 33:47.
Johnson also placed first in the CX Women’s Cat ½ race, while Williamson finished fourth.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The race comes months after Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) updated its policy, banning transgender athletes from elite competition.
A view of the UCI World cycling center logo on May 14, 2022 in Aigle, Switzerland. (RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images)
In July, the world governing body for sports cycling released a lengthy statement updating their policy to prohibit any trans cyclist from competing in women’s events if they "transitioned after (male) puberty."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women's events on the UCI International Calendar — in all categories — in the various disciplines."
The decision followed a July 5 meeting, when the governing body found that the current "state of scientific knowledge" can not guarantee that any physical advantage would be eliminated after undergoing hormone therapy treatments.
A row of cycling bikes. (Mickey Pfleger/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Jackson Park race in Illinois, where Johnson and Williamson placed, follows the guidelines for non-elite competition set by the USA Cycling, which states that at "non-elite competition levels, a member may self-select their gender."
"The CCC has always been first and foremost about fostering a positive & supportive community built around competitive cyclo-cross racing, and that means welcoming and challenging everyone who wants to contribute to the series and make it better," the Chicago Cyclocross Cup says on its website.