Emily Bridges has condemned British Cycling’s new policy barring transgender athletes from competing as women as a “violent act” and called the governing body a “failed organisation”.
Bridges, who came out as a transgender woman in October 2020, has been at the centre of the debate after British Cycling suspended its previous policy amid the controversy sparked when she sought to race as a woman at the national omnium championships last year.
The new policy creates a new ‘open’ category in which transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals and those whose sex was assigned male at birth will be eligible to compete, with the ‘female’ category reserved for those assigned female at birth and transgender men yet to begin hormone therapy.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Bridges said British Cycling “have no authority to control this conversation anymore”.
“British Cycling is a failed organisation, the racing scene is dying under your watch and all you do is take money from petrochemical companies and engage in culture wars,” she wrote.
“You don’t care about making sport more diverse, you want to make yourself look better and you’re even failing at that. Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you couldn’t care less.”
British Cycling said its new policy was based on a consultation with riders and stakeholders, a review of available medical research conducted by chief medical officer Dr Nigel Jones, and legal advice.
Bridges has previously said she has been part of research herself which she said showed she did not retain an advantage after hormone replacement therapy.
Her statement on Friday added: “I agree that there needs to be a nuanced policy discussion and continue to conduct research, but this hasn’t happened.
“Research isn’t being viewed critically, or any discussion about the relevance of the data to specific sports.
“Any discussion is inherently political and driven by bad faith actors, and the whole discussion is framed by the media who are driven through engagement by hate and funding from far-right ultra-capitalists.
“I’ve given my body up to science for the last two years, and this data will be out soon. There is actual, relevant data coming soon and discussions need to be had.”
Bridges, who was previously part of the Great Britain academy with designs on competing at the Paris Olympics, said she was now questioning her future in the sport.
“I don’t even know if I want to race my bike any more, the danger and everything that would come with racing makes it a pretty hard thing to justify to myself,” she wrote.
“But you have no right on telling me when I am done. This is my decision and mine alone.
“Yeah, I might be speaking strongly at the moment, but this is my reality right now. It is literally a fight for survival for me and my family at the moment.”
British Cycling declined to respond to Bridges’ statement.
On This Day in 2014 – Sir Bradley Wiggins wins time-trial gold in Spain
Sir Bradley Wiggins won gold in the men’s time trial at the Road World Championships in Spain on this day in 2014.
Wiggins clocked 56 minutes 25.52 seconds for the 47.1-kilometre route in Ponferrada to win by an emphatic margin of 26.23secs.
Germany’s Tony Martin, seeking a fourth straight world title, had to settle for silver, while Tom Dumoulin of Holland took bronze.
It was Britain’s first gold in the event in 20 years, since Chris Boardman won the inaugural edition of the road time trial.
Wiggins said: “I paced it perfectly. I still had gas in the final. Even on the last descent, I knew I was ahead, but I was pushing all the way.
“I don’t know what to say. I knew coming into it that I had the legs.
“Once I saw the course I knew if I was ever going to beat Tony it would be here.”
Wiggins – Olympic time-trial champion as well as Tour de France champion in 2012 – added a first road world title to multiple golds he had achieved at World Championships on the track.
Cyclist Dahlia Palmer threatens legal action over Jamaica Cycling Federation's suspension of her coach Robert Farrier
In a potentially precedent-setting move, lawyers at New City Chambers, representing Dahlia Palmer, a Jamaican cyclist based in Trinidad and Tobago, have issued a final written warning to the Jamaican Cycling Federation. The letter, sent on September 20, 2023, threatens legal action against the federation unless they reconsider their suspension of Ms. Palmer's coach, Mr. Robert Farrier, and permit his attendance at the 2023 Pan Am Games and future events.
The legal dispute stems from a series of events that have unfolded over the past months. In May 2023, the federation's Secretary, Ms. Donna-Kaye Sharpe, sent an email stating that athletes, coaches, and managers must fund their participation in the Pan American Track Championships. These championships served as a crucial qualifier for the PANAM Games 2023 and the Olympic Games 2024.
Ms. Palmer and Mr. Farrier decided to self-fund their participation, a decision that eventually led to Ms. Palmer's impressive performance at the championships, securing her qualification for the PANAM Games 2023.
However, issues arose when Ms. Palmer opted not to attend the CAC Games 2023. She cited her lack of trust in the accompanying coach, Mr. Carlton Simmonds, as a primary reason. Mr. Farrier expressed concerns about Coach Simmonds during a virtual conference in May 2023, indicating that Ms. Palmer preferred to focus on events like the championships that held Olympic qualification status.
On June 7, 2023, the federation sent letters to both Ms. Palmer and Mr. Farrier expressing disapproval of Ms. Palmer's non-attendance at the CAC Games and concerns about Mr. Farrier's comments regarding Coach Simmonds. Mr. Farrier, to his surprise, received a 12-month suspension in response.
As tensions mounted, the federation requested a meeting with Ms. Palmer on August 31, 2023, to discuss her non-attendance at the CAC Games and the Olympics 2024. Ms. Palmer insisted that any discussions about her cycling career must include Mr. Farrier, her coach and manager.
Attorney Amy Rajkumar, whose signature appears beneath the missive, argues that the federation's actions amount to breaches of duty and an abuse of power. They emphasize that the federation never provided additional staff or financial support for Olympic qualifiers attended by Ms. Palmer. Moreover, Mr. Farrier was never selected to accompany athletes during fully funded events organized by the association.
The lawyers contend that the federation's suspension of Mr. Farrier, their refusal to provide a copy of the Federation's Constitution and Selection Policy, and their financial negligence violate the International Olympic Committee Code of Ethics, which highlights principles like safety, well-being, and respect for universal ethical standards.
The letter concludes with a request that the federation reconsiders their decisions, lifts Mr. Farrier's suspension, and fully funds Ms. Palmer's attendance at the PANAM Games 2023. Failure to comply by noon on September 26, 2023, will result in legal action against the federation.
Young cyclists excel at Junior Caribbean Cycling Champs in Dom Rep
Jamaica's young cyclists Cajur Chue, Khalil Francis and Melaika Russell all registered credible performances during the recently-concluded two-day Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic.
The three were among 56 athletes across 13 countries that participated in the championships, where Jamaica finished second on the medal table with three medals behind host nation which had nine medals. Puerto Rico completed the top three with two medals.
Chue, National Juvenile Time Trial champion, competed in the Juvenile Men 10km Individual Time Trial on the first day of action and claimed silver in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. He just missed out on top spot by 10 seconds, as he finished behind Puerto Rico’s Amauri Santiago (13min 19 sec), while Dominican Republic’s Emir David Nina Garcia (13mins 25sec) was third.
Jamaica's National women's Time Trial champion Russell was also in action on day one, as she competed in the Juvenile Women 10km individual Time Trial, where she also placed second in 16 minutes and 47 seconds. The event was won by Bermuda’s Charlotte Millington, with Barbadian Arielle Greaves taking third in a time of 17 minutes and 40 seconds.
Russell returned on the second day and won gold in the 60km Road Race for Juvenile Women, becoming the first Caribbean Road champion from Jamaica since Marloe
Rodman in 2015.
In the juvenile male 70km road race, Chue took an early solo breakaway and opened a 150 metres gap with 15km to go, but was unable to maintain that tempo and got
caught. Both Chue and Francis missed out on the podium, as they placed sixth and 10th respectively.
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