Two transgender cyclists proudly throw their arms with apparent joy on the podium after winning the competition in the women’s race at the Chicago CycloCross Cup.
Tessa Johnson, 25, won first place in the Women’s SingleSpeed and Cat Half categories, while Evelyn Williamson, 30, took second in the SingleSpeed at the October 7 competition.
The transgender couple made headlines earlier this year for wiping out the competition at several women’s races amid heated debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
In the Women’s SingleSpeed race, Johnson took the gold and Williamson took silver, leaving just one biological woman on the podium, Allison Zmuda, who placed third for bronze.
Johnson placed first in the Women’s Cat Half and won $150 in prize money. Williamson placed fourth in that race and received a $75 prize.
Tessa Johnson (center), 25, and Evelyn Williamson (right), 30, place first and second, respectively, in the Women’s SingleSpeed competition of the Chicago CycloCross Cup
Johnson (center) placed first in the Women’s Cat Half and won $150 in prize money
The CycloCross Cup took place October 7-8 at Jackson Park in Chicago, Illinois and featured more than a dozen different competitions for men, women and junior athletes.
On their website, the Chicago CrossCup said they welcome transgender athletes and that they follow USA Cycling’s Transgender Athlete Participation Policies.
“The CCC has always been first and foremost about fostering a positive and supportive community built around competitive cyclocross racing, and that means welcoming and challenging everyone who wants to contribute to the series and make it better. ‘
They noted: ‘Discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, sports ball team affiliation, or any other stupid idea anyone can come up with to demean others will not be tolerated.’
Williamson and Johnson won the Racing-Athletic Relay Cross in Chicago on August 27 – competing under the team name ‘TS-ESTRODOLLS’ in reference to the female hormone oestrogen.
Johnson is pictured being chased at the Chicago competition. The Chicago CrossCup said it welcomes transgender athletes and follows USA Cycling’s Transgender Athlete Participation Policies
Williamson is pictured cycling at the Chicago CycloCross Cup. She placed fourth in the Women’s Cat Half and received a $75 prize
In March 2020, Williamson competed in both the men’s and women’s categories at the Sky Express Winter Criterium, where she took first place in the women’s race, but not in the men’s race, which consisted of 40 cyclists.
She has been racing in the women’s category since at least 2017 and has won 18 titles.
Johnson also has a number of wins in women’s races, having previously competed in men’s categories while riding for Clemson University, according to Reduxx.
Williamson also made headlines for her romantic life after rumors began to circulate that she was in ‘problem’ with fellow transgender cyclist Austin Killips and a third unidentified individual.
Killips sparked widespread outrage after appearing to bump female Cyclocross champion Hannah Arensman in a competition in December 2022 – who went on to leave the sport altogether after feeling transgender athletes were ruining the sport .
After being hit by Killips, she said: ‘I fully expect that in cycling, as a full-body contact sport, you’re going to get hit at some point.
‘But when someone who was born a man runs into you, over 6 feet tall, it’s completely different. I tried to keep racing, not to let it enter my mind at all. However, that one incident that was caught on video felt unnecessary.’
Arensman left the sport completely this year after losing a podium place to the trans rider.
“A guy, even if mediocre in the men’s field, is more than capable of breaking records and taking podiums in women’s races,” she added.
‘It’s not fair sport, and the governing bodies, who should have made the rules in the first place, need to realize that. The very people who should be protecting our sport are not doing it.’
Williamson and Johnson stand atop the podium in August after winning the Illinois State Women’s Championship
Williamson and Johnson (pictured riding together) have had considerable success competing in women’s categories
Williamson (left) is said to have had a ‘marital’ relationship with Killips (second from left), who sparked fury after appearing to bump women’s Cyclocross champion Hannah Arensman.
Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, claimed that the two enjoyed a biological advantage over their competition.
Op user said: ‘What impressive men who can beat women with their testosterone.’
“And different muscle, bone and ligament composition, greater lung capacity…etc,” said another.
“How bad are these men that they have to compete against women?” another wrote.
Across the country, college and professional athletes are debating how to include transgender competitors in their sports.
Critics argue that transwomen who have gone through male puberty probably retain a significant biological advantage over biological women, even if they have had surgery and received hormone therapy.
Research on the subject continues.
Three captains of Roanoke College’s women’s swimming team have revealed to DailyMail.com their ‘demoralizing’ struggle trying to convince trans students not to compete on their team.
The student competed in the men’s competition, took a year off to transfer, and joined the women’s team in September.
The group is demanding that colleges nationwide provide a ‘blueprint’ for dealing with such scenarios and argued they are being left to fend for themselves.