A male athlete who has dominated the women’s category of cycling competitions across the United States took home two first-place medals over the weekend, bringing his tally of women’s gold medals up to 10 since December of 2022.
On October 29, the Chicago CycloCross Cup held the fourth race of its eight-race event at Anderson Park in Campton Township, Illinois. As part of the race, over one dozen different categories for men, women, and juniors were offered. But the event is once again under fire after a trans-identified male racer took home not one, but two women’s medals.
Tessa Johnson, a male who self-identifies as a woman, took the top spots in both the Women’s SingleSpeed and Category 1/2 races, with the latter also coming with $150 in prize money.
During the races, which fell on the weekend before Halloween, Johnson was dressed as Barbie as part of the optional costume competition.
But this is not Johnson’s first time taking home awards intended for women in the Chicago CycloCross Cup.
As previously reported by Reduxx, Johnson also took first place in the Women’s SingleSpeed and Category 1/2 races at the Chicago CycloCross Cup during its event at Jackson Park in Chicago, Illinois, earlier this month. During the race, another trans-identified male, Evelyn Williamson, took silver during the SingleSpeed, leaving only one biological female on the podium.
According to the Chicago CycloCross Cup’s website, the competition prides itself on “first and foremost fostering a positive & supportive community built around competitive cyclocross racing,” continuing: “That means welcoming and challenging everyone who wants to contribute to the series and make it better in that regard.”
In its official FAQ on the topic of transgender cyclists, the Cup notes that “discrimination or harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, or any other stupid idea someone comes up with to belittle another racer will not be tolerated at [our] events and may result in disqualification.”
News of Johnson’s victory this weekend was first brought to light by X user @i_heart__bikes, an anonymous female cyclist who frequently calls out males self-identifying as “women” in the sport. The post quickly prompted outrage amongst sports enthusiasts and women’s rights advocates.
“The selfishness of these males knows no limits,” one user replied.
“Women need to start boycotting these events. He’s a guy with all the physical benefits. USA Cycling needs to adopt the UCI standards and force these faux female riders to compete with the men,” another remarked.
Earlier this month, USA Cycling (USAC) announced it would be updating its transgender athlete participation policy, and aim to establish new categories for transgender athletes to compete across domestic races like the Chicago CycloCross Cup within the United States.
Beginning January 1, 2024, transgender athletes seeking to compete at USAC-sanctioned events will be categorized as either Group A or Group B athletes, depending on their discipline and race category, according to a press release from USA Cycling on October 19.
Group A athletes are those seeking to compete at the elite level, and must complete an “elite athlete fairness evaluation application” for review by an independent medical panel. This process includes the submission of medical documentation demonstrating that the athlete’s total testosterone level had been reduced for at least 24 months and must be completed 90 days prior to the first day of the race in which the athlete seeks to compete.
Group B athletes, those seeking to compete in domestic, non-elite competitions, would simply have to complete a “self-identity verification request” for review by the USA Cycling technical director. This process is a simple assessment to ensure that the athlete has completed a legal change in gender identity.
The changes were slammed by women’s sports advocates as wholly inadequate, with the International Council on Women’s Sports noting that both “groups” provide male athletes a pathway to compete in women’s categories.
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