A trans cyclist has sparked a fury after taking victory in a national USA Cycling race – after finishing 44th in a men's race last season.
Kylie Small competed in men's racing until earlier this year – and last week she won the Women's Singlespeed national title at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Fort Lewis College student took the gold with a time of 38 minutes and 19 seconds.
In April, Small placed 44th in the CX Male Senior 18-22 division, aaccording to Reduxx. Before switching divisions, she competed under her birth name.
The second fastest in last week's Kentucky race was Jennifer Malik.
Kylie Small competed in men's racing until earlier this year – and last week she won the Women's Singlespeed national title at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
Small position on the podium in first place after participating in the women's race
The International Council on Women's Sports has since condemned USA Cycling for allowing trans women to self-identify in the women's category.
After the win, Small said she won the race because she was 'closing gaps' and performing 'clean dismounts'.
She wrote on social media, as she posed with her gold medal: 'Cyclocross nationals!! I didn't go into this trip with many expectations, so it's all the more nice to come away from the trip with a national title.
'It's great fun to race on such an iconic course. My first day of racing didn't go great in collegiate varsity with flcccycling with a rear tire burp causing me to lose a group of really fast girls and then trying to catch up the rest of the race.
'But I have certainly found my legs again in single speed! With some of my fastest lap times of the weekend I tried to get to the front quickly and launched an attack with two laps to go.
'Special thanks to maxx Chance for coaching me on some sections mid-race. I ran a 42×19 for anyone who was wondering :)'
Small, who attends Fort Lewis College in Colorado, took the gold in the women's division – with a time of 38 minutes and 19 seconds
Small took gold in the women's event – with a time of 38 minutes and 19 seconds
But last season, in April, she competed in the men's competitions and came 44th, according to Reduxx.
This comes after USA Cycling said it would test the testosterone levels of trans women who want to compete in women's competitions in 2024.
In a statement, the agency said: “Beginning January 1, 2024, transgender athletes seeking to compete in USA Cycling-sanctioned events will be categorized as a Group A or Group B athlete, depending on their discipline and race category.
'Group A transgender women who wish to compete domestically must complete the Elite Athlete Fairness Assessment Application so that it can be assessed by an independent medical panel.
'This process involves submitting medical documentation proving that their total serum testosterone level has been below 2.5 nmol/L for at least 24 months and must be completed 90 days before the first day of the race in which the athlete intends to participate . .
“Group B transgender athletes (men and women) who wish to compete domestically must submit an identity verification request for review by the USA Cycling Technical Director.
“This process is intended to document the athlete's change in gender identity and must be completed 30 days before the first day of the race in which the athlete intends to participate.”
After the win, Small said she won the race because she “pushed gaps” and performed “clean dismounts.”
People on social media called out the cycling organization for allowing Kylie Small to perform in that category this weekend.
One person wrote: 'Cheater cheats. Cowardly cowards allowed it.”
Another added: 'I just can't understand how men can participate in women's sports and feel shame and embarrassment? It's unconscionable!'
And a third said: 'I don't understand how the powers that be are able to justify allowing this man to race against women while at the same time banning performance enhancing drugs. Both achieve the same result.'
This comes after a pair of transgender women took first and second place in a women's race at the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships last weekend, sparking anger among women's athletics advocates.
The championships were held on December 3 and consisted of a dozen different competitions, divided into categories for men, women and junior athletes.
But two biological males topped the podium for the Women's Singlespeed category.
Kristin Chalmers, the bronze medalist, was the only biological woman on a podium that included Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson.
According to ReduxxChicago CrossCup's website notes that it will disqualify anyone who practices “discrimination or harassment of any kind” based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, or any other stupid idea where someone comes up. to disparage another racer.'
News of the transgender athletes' gold and silver victories set X on fire as female sports advocates reacted with disgust and dismay to podium spots stolen from biologically female competitors.
Megyn Kelly simply called the incident “annoying,” while tennis legend Martina Navratilova wrote, “More mediocre male bodies are taking podium spots from female athletes. And it stinks!!!!'
Piers Morgan was also shocked: 'It's so scandalous. Why aren't more women standing up against this attack on their rights?' he wrote on X.
This comes after USA Cycling said it would test the testosterone levels of trans women who want to compete in women's competitions in 2024
A report called the Lesbian Republican wrote, “Cycling has been my refuge since I was a little girl. This makes me sick and full of anger.”
Former NCAA swimmer and current advocate for the survival of women's sports Riley Gaines offered to compensate female cyclists who boycott USA Cycling races.
“Any woman who gives in and doesn't participate, I will personally pay the prize money they are missing out on. Stop participating in the farce,” she wrote.
Johnson and Williamson have been racing as women for years. Since 2017, Williamson has collected some 18 first-place titles in races across the country.
Williamson is reportedly in a polyamorous relationship with fellow trans cyclist Austin Kilips, who competes against biological women and has become infamous for pushing a competitor during a race.
According to previous reporting, Williamson competed in both the men's and women's categories at the Sky Express Winter Criterium in March 2020, where the cyclist took first place in the race against women.
But she did not qualify in the men's race, consisting of 40 cyclists, indicating that Navratilova may have hit the nail on the head with her statement.
Johnson also has a number of victories in women's races, having previously competed in the men's categories while riding for Clemson University.