A cycling organization has made the decision to introduce a third competitive category that will allow transgender racers to participate.
This move comes in response to criticism following a recent race where a man emerged as the winner in the women's division.
The Belgian Waffle Ride, a renowned cycling competition that pays homage to the challenging one-day classics of Europe, held an event in Hendersonville, North Carolina on June 10, 2023.
However, the race, known as "BWR N. Carolina," saw a man named Austin Killips claim victory in the "Women Overall" category, as reported by TimCast.
Killips completed the race with a finishing time of 8 hours, 28 minutes, and 7.47 seconds. Interestingly, if Killips had competed against men, he would have finished in 22nd place with the exact same time.
Following the event, the Belgian Waffle Ride received numerous complaints regarding the participation of a man in the women's competition. In response, the organization addressed the backlash as "feedback" in a Facebook post.
The organization stated, "Since our first Belgian Waffle Ride event, we have strived to create a fair, inclusive, and unique world-class experience.
We firmly believe that everyone, regardless of ethnicity, creed, color, sexual orientation, and sexual identification, has the inherent right to participate in our activities."
In light of the feedback received, the Belgian Waffle Ride announced that it would review its registration and competition rules.
The organization plans to consult with cyclists, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders, as well as relevant international regulatory bodies, to identify best practices in this area.
On July 9, 2023, the Belgian Waffle Ride took to Instagram to announce that it would be introducing a third category that is open to all participants. The new classifications are as follows:
Furthermore, the organization emphasized its commitment to ensuring that all participants have equal access and opportunities to take part in their cycling events in a fair manner.
They also stated that equal amounts of prize money will be awarded for each of the three categories.
According to Reduxx, an outlet covering cycling news, this is not the first time Austin Killips has competed against and defeated women.
Killips reportedly secured first place in the Tour of the Gila, an internationally recognized, top-tier cycling competition.
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