Transgender Cyclist Austin Killips’ Win in Women’s Race Sparks Controversy
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Controversy has seemingly erupted after transgender cyclist Austin Killips finished in first place in the women’s category in the Tour of the Gila.
Here is everything you need to know.
Transgender cyclist Austin Killips gets slammed for winning in women’s race
Cycling’s eligibility rules are facing hot water after Austin Killips, a transgender rider came out victorious in an elite women’s race.
Moreover, Killips won the women’s section at the Tour of the Gila held in New Mexico, United States.
In addition, UCI, the international governing body of cycling, sanctioned the five-stage tour race.
This is Austin Killips – the 6ft cheating MAN who just stole first place, the winner’s jersey and £28,000 from cyclist Marcela Prieto.
— Comrade Jennifer James (@female_union) May 1, 2023
Let’s make sure 2023 will be the LAST year this ever happens to women. Keep pushing. pic.twitter.com/B7hBhv2DgU
Nevertheless, Killips broke free from the group in the final stage of the tour and clocked in at 3:07:16.
Besides that, she came ahead of Marcela Prieto and Cassandra Nelson to take the top position on the podium at a margin of eighty-nine seconds.
Furthermore, the winner of the elite-level road race had the opportunity to win a whopping prize money of $35,000.
However, Killips has begun to face heat online for her victory with netizens focusing on transgender women participating in a competition against biological females.
Biological man wins a women’s cycling race & $35,000. 🤬
— 🔥🇺🇸 KC 🇺🇸🔥 (@KCPayTreeIt) May 3, 2023
Austin Killips stole the Tour of the Gila cycling championship in New Mexico. Killips finished 89 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, a woman.
'Women's Rights' though?
Women trained every day, only to have this… pic.twitter.com/7GCu40yv14
Social media users react to Austin Killips winning women’s race
Transgender Austin Killips is facing criticism on social media for competing against biological females in a cycling competition in New Mexico. Additionally, this has led to a debate online about the sport’s rules.
Former world champion cyclist Alison Sydor took to her Twitter to share her views on Killips winning the race.
She wrote, ‘The current UCI rules that allow males to compete in female cycling events are not fair to female athletes.’
The current UCI rules that allow males to compete in female cycling events are NOT fair to female athletes. The UCI wants to hear from anyone concerned about matters affecting the integrity of the sport. https://t.co/0P1ydB1mSw pic.twitter.com/UWJ9yyDZkK
— Alison Sydor #1105 😈👻🐸 (@AlisonSydor) April 28, 2023
She added, ‘Time for UCI to admit this current rule situation is unsustainable and leaving a black mark on cycling as a fair sport for females.’
Time for @UCI_cycling & @DLappartient to admit this current rule situation is unsustainable & leaving a black mark on cycling as a fair sport for Females. A UCI Americas Tour race feels they have to delete video & block comments on their social media. Cc: @women_cpa pic.twitter.com/nEJpLdkCij
— Alison Sydor #1105 😈👻🐸 (@AlisonSydor) April 28, 2023
Sharron Davies, an Olympic swimmer on the other hand also took a hit at Killips being included in the women’s category.
She penned, ‘This is beyond disappointing.’
If you didn’t know, Davies also spoke out last month against Nike’s decision to use transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote its women’s sportswear.
A user commented, ‘Transgender cyclist Austin Killips wins women’s Tour of the Gila. Ridiculous. The physiological differences between men and women are insurmountable. Every sport should have sex-based categories. Otherwise, this will keep happening.’
Someone else chimed in to say, ‘After becoming the first transgender cyclist to win a title, Austin Killips is being hailed as the Lia Thomas of cycling…putting the ‘Bi’ in Bicycling.’
After becoming the first transgender cyclist to win a title, Austin Killips is being hailed as the Lia Thomas of cycling…putting the "Bi" in Bicycling.
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) May 1, 2023
We have to collectively stand together as women and say No! If every woman walked away instead of participating in the race, we’d be reading a different news headline now🤨
— Laurel (@laurel_prolife) May 2, 2023
Everyone is mad at the man but the women could have stuck together and refused to race. Yeah that’ll happen/s
— Jayx Robinson (@jayxx_robinson) May 2, 2023Advertisement
Been tweeting my ass off in opposition to Killips, but the fact is that $35K was the total prize pool for women. He got $4K for 1st overall on General Classification, plus stage wins, QOM category, etc. If it was $4 taken from an actual woman it is too much, but facts matter.
— Is this thing on (@z_this_thing_on) May 2, 2023
I just don’t think women cyclists care. They LIKE losing! All women want is a pat on the ass. No prize money. I don’t get it but if the women competing against men have such little respect for themselves, why should we have any respect for them?
— Jayx Robinson (@jayxx_robinson) May 2, 2023
That is beyond distressing. Great sympathy for Marcela. I wonder if Stephen Fry’s insistence on the harmlessness and vulnerability of trans ‘women’ extends to the cuckoo and cheat that is killick. Wish I’d never heard of him.
— @erik_the_eel (@erick_the_eel) May 2, 2023
You must understand how dangerous it is for women to speak out – look what happened to swimmer Riley Gaines, punched, kicked and kidnapped for 3 hours – for speaking out. She now has daily death threats and has had to hire security.
— Comrade Jennifer James (@female_union) May 3, 2023
These nutters want to kill us.
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