The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has defended its policy on transgender athletes after Austin Killips, a transgender woman, won the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, sparking backlash within the cycling community. Killips, 27, became the first openly transgender woman to win an official UCI women's stage race, also claiming the Queen of the Mountains jersey.
In a statement to CNN, the UCI said its rules are based on the latest scientific knowledge and are applied consistently, while acknowledging that transgender athletes may wish to compete according to their gender identity. The governing body added that it continues to follow scientific developments and may adjust its rules in the future. Current UCI regulations require transgender women to maintain serum testosterone levels of 2.5 nanomoles per litre or less for at least two years to compete in women's events.
Critics, including former Olympic cyclist Inga Thompson, accused the UCI of 'effectively killing off women's cycling' by allowing transgender athletes to compete against biological females. Sports scientist Ross Tucker called for sports to 'respect women's rights,' while former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies described the UCI as 'not fit for purpose.' Ex-Canadian world champion Alison Sydor said the rules are 'not fair to female athletes' and urged the UCI to acknowledge the situation is unsustainable.
Tour of Gila organisers stated they are required to follow UCI rules and encouraged an open discussion on rider eligibility. Killips, who finished 89 seconds ahead of Italian Marcela Prieto in the general classification, acknowledged the online discourse but expressed gratitude for support from peers and competitors. She began her transition after 2019.
The UCI's policy remains more permissive than those of athletics and swimming, which ban transgender women from elite female competitions. British Cycling altered its rules last year to prohibit transgender women from elite races pending a review.
