A trans-identified male cyclist is currently dominating the women’s category of an ultra-distance cycling challenge in Ireland.
Cameron Dixon, who now goes by Cara, is one of 13 participants listed in the “women’s” category of the TransAtlanticWay, a cross-country cycling challenge in Ireland. Dixon, who is from Stokesley, England, is currently topping the women’s leaderboard, riding almost 300km (approx. 180 miles) ahead of the next female challenger.
At the time of writing, Dixon has already covered 1767km (approx. 1100 miles) of the 2500km (approx. 1550 miles) challenge. The leading female cyclist is Jasmijn Muller of Brecon, Wales.
There are only 13 people taking part in the women’s category, compared to 62 in the men’s category. Dixon is currently ranked in 4th amongst all of the challengers, while the second-place female cyclist is ranked 8th overall.
If Dixon were performing in the male category, he would be ranked in a tight 4th place.
The TransAtlanticWay is an annual ultra-distance self-supported road bike challenge between Derry and Cork via the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. Due to the massive course, there are no official judges. Cyclists instead pay an entrance fee and wear a provided GPS tracking device which monitors the distance they have covered.
This isn’t the first time Dixon has participated in a women’s cycling category.
Earlier this year, Dixon took home the women’s prize during the Dirty Reiver gravel race in the United Kingdom, smashing second place by a significant margin.
Dixon’s race time was 1 hour and 18 minutes compared to the top female participant, who finished in 2 hours and 23 minutes. He was the only person in the category to finish in less than 2 hours, and only three female participants finished in less than 3 hours. If Dixon had competed in the men’s category, he would have placed 31st.
Dixon appears to have transitioned relatively recently, and trained and competed as a cyclist prior to identifying as a “woman.” In 2020, he gave an interview as Cameron Dixon where he disclosed that he was an engineering student and had taken up cycling in 2017.
In 2022, Dixon signed an open letter calling for British Cycling to lift their suspension on men competing in women’s cycling competitions.
At the time, the governing body had temporarily scrapped their “trans inclusion policy,” which had allowed men to self-identify into female categories. The policy was suspended in order for a comprehensive review to be completed on whether it was fair to the female athletes.
Despite the open letter and backlash from trans activists, British Cycling decided to ban men competing in female categories after completing their 9-month review in May.
Following the announcement, trans-identified male cyclist Emily Bridges called the move a “violent act” and likened it to contributing to the genocide of transgender people.
BREAKING: British Cycling has announced it will ban trans-identified males from participating in the female category.
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) May 26, 2023
Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges has responded in a statement calling the move a “violent act” and claiming British Cycling is furthering trans “genocide.” pic.twitter.com/SDNCIcoUTo
But the CEO of British Cycling, Jon Dutton, was not deterred, and stood by the decision.
“I am confident that we have developed policies that both safeguard the fairness of cyclesport competition, whilst ensuring all riders have opportunities to participate.”
The new policy is due to come into effect at the end of this year, meaning Dixon will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s cycling.
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