British Cycling blocks transgender riders from competing in female category

New guidelines on the participation of transgender and non-binary athletes have been released by the national governing body after a nine month review process

British Cycling
(Image credit: SW Pix)

Transgender riders will be unable to ride in competitive women’s races under a new policy issued by British Cycling today. The decision comes after a nine-month review and consultation process.

The national governing body has created two new policies that cover the participation of transgender and non-binary athletes in competitive and non-competitive events.

The previous testosterone-based policy was suspended by BC in April last year pending a full review, following fears trans athlete Emily Bridges would have an advantage competing at the National Omnium Championships.

Under the new policy competitive events will no longer have male and female categories but a female and an "open" category.

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Tom Thewlis

Tom joined Cycling Weekly in early 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine. 


He has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest events and races including the Tour de France and the recent Glasgow World Championships. He has also covered races elsewhere across the world and interviewed some of the biggest stars in the sport including Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert, Primož Roglič and Lizzie Deignan. 


When not writing news scoops from the WorldTour, or covering stories from elsewhere in the domestic professional scene, he reports on goings on at bike shops up and down the UK, where he is based when not out on the road at races. He has also appeared on the Radio Cycling podcast.