ICFS calls for UCI to act on trans athletes situation following Austin Killips' Tour of the Gila victory
Cycling
The International Consortion on Female Sport (ICFS) has published an open letter calling out for change in the UCI so as to "address the unfairness and injustice for female riders that the world is now witnessing in cycling sports."
This comes following the victory of Austin Killips, a female transgender athlete, in the recent Tour of the Gila. Despite being a 2.2 race, the race has received extensive backlash because of Killips taking the victory, with calls going as far as declaring second placed Marcela Prieto the winner. The situation led to Killips restricting access to her social media, and the American race also having to restrict social media activity due to the amount of insulting comments that were launched towards both.
The ICFS consider Killips a male athlete and considers this to "destroys the integrity of the female category," arguing that the number of transgender athletes is increasing in North America, that the testosterone suppression method (which is, at the time being, the main form of control over eligibility to race for these specific athletes) only minimally mitigates the issue.
Whilst several riders have recently been prohibited from racing the Vuelta Femenina due to the Spanish federation's decision over their departure from the Spanish Zaaf Cycling Team over lack of payment, the subject has not been brought up. The ICFS adds that "the inclusion of male cyclists in the female category is unacceptable and must end."
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
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Austin Killips @AmyD_Foundation put an exclamation point on her overall race lead Sunday by winning Stage 5 Gila Monster and taking home the overall victory at Tour of the Gila. #UCIWomen #TOTG2023 clippedin.bike/killips-rides-…
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