Teams With Trans-Identified Male Cyclists Win Top Three Spots At Women’s Bike Race In Washington

Three trans-identified males were on the winner’s podium at a race in Washington last week, marking the first time men won first, second, and third place in a women’s race.

The Marymoor Grand Prix is an annual track bike race at the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome in Redmond, Washington. The venue is known for its strict “no bullying” policy, which warns that it will not tolerate any derogatory remarks or criticism towards racers. The warning has become significant in recent years, especially as relates to protecting athletes on the basis of their “gender identity,” as males have been known to regularly compete in women’s races at the track.

The Grand Prix was no different, as at least three men were present in the female category during the women’s Madison race, a high-speed, two-person relay. During the race, one partner from each team starts while the “resting” partner pedals slowly along the top of the track. Partners exchange positions by pulling even with each other and then relaying or “slinging” the incoming partner into the race.

At least three Madison teams at the Grand Prix featured one female, and one male who identified as a “woman.”

Jenna Lingwood, Jordan Lothrop, and Eva Lin were the three men recorded as being present on Madison teams, and each had previously competed with other men.

Lothrop, a cyclist from Canada who had been racing with men as recently as 2023, came in first place with his female teammate. In second place was Lingwood, formerly James, who is the women’s masters 40+ national cyclocross champion, with his female teammate. And in third was Lin, who used to race as Henry Lin for San Jose State University’s men’s team, with his female teammate.

The wins were first highlighted by a women’s rights advocate on X who monitors males self-identifying into women’s cycling. The user, @i_heart__bikes, sarcastically questioned why the three teams with males beat out the all-female teams.

“I wonder what gave those teams an edge over the 100% female teams?” She asked.

In July of 2023, the world governing body for cycling, UCI, banned transgender athletes from participating in any of their events if they had gone through male puberty. UCI determined that the previous barrier, restricting testosterone levels, was not “sufficient to completely eliminate the benefits of testosterone during puberty in men,” their statement noted.

“Given the current state of scientific knowledge, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes,” the statement read.

David Lappartient, the president of UCI, said that the governing body had a “duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities” for all competitors in cycling competitions. 

“It is this imperative that led the UCI to conclude that, given the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants, it was not possible, as a precautionary measure, to authorize the former to race in the female categories,” he explained.

British Cycling had introduced their own policy two months prior, creating an “open” third category where anyone of any gender identity and sex would be allowed to compete. The female category would be restricted only to biological women, including those who identified as transgender, but who had yet to undertake hormone therapy.

However, as noted by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, USA Cycling has not adopted these new, stricter policies that prevent biological males from competing with and beating women and girls.

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