Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges has been prevented from riding the British National Omnium Championships this weekend after the UCI has effectively blocked her participation. British Cycling had planned to facilitate her starting the women’s title race.
The British governing body said in a statement this evening that, under UCI rules, Bridges would not be able to take part as had been planned, with the world governing body saying Bridges was ineligible.
Last month, Bridges won the men's points race at the British Universities Championships in what was her last competitive outing in a male only race. She broke a national junior men’s record for the 25 mile TT in 2018 and was previously part the men's Great Britain Academy programme.
The UCI has
told British Cycling that Bridges cannot race this weekend – when she would
have taken on some of the biggest names in British cycling – because she is
still registered as a male rider. The world governing body said Bridges needs
to allow her registration as a male rider to expire before she could commence
her career as a female rider.
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Bridges (21)
has been undergoing hormone therapy since last year – as part of gender
dysphoria treatment. And because she now has lowered testosterone levels, she
is eligible to compete as a woman – or will be when her male UCI registration
expires.
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UCI president David
Lappartient told BBC Sport that some female riders had registered their
concerns about the fairness of trans women competing in female races. He said
some riders did not believe the current rules were enough to ensure fairness.
British Cycling has taken a different view and it is clear from its statement that it was the UCI’s decision alone that blocked Bridges from riding the women’s omnium title race this weekend.
“At
British Cycling, we believe that transgender and non-binary people should be
able to find a home, feel welcome and included, and be celebrated in our sport,”
the British governing body said. “Under the British Cycling
transgender and non-binary participation policy, Emily Bridges was due to
participate in the British National Omnium Championships on Saturday, April 2nd.
“We
have now been informed by the Union Cycliste Internationale that, under their
current guidelines, Emily is not eligible to participate in this event. We have
been in close discussions with the UCI regarding Emily’s participation this
weekend and have also engaged closely with Emily and her family regarding her
transition and involvement in elite competitions.
“We
acknowledge the decision of the UCI with regards to Emily’s participation,
however we fully recognise her disappointment with today’s decision.”
