Hulking transgender athletes take gold, silver and bronze spots on female podium at Virginia cycling championship

Transgender athletes swept the board in a 1-2-3 at a prestigious women's cycle race over the weekend, infuriating fans and leaving female competitors in the shade.

Every medalist in the elite women's Madison at Virginia's Marymore Grand Prix on Friday had a trans athlete on the two–person team, marking the first time trans women are known to have had a place on every podium spot in a race.

Race venue the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome in Redmond warns it will not tolerate 'bullying or derogatory comments especially related to race, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability'.

But the sight of the heavily-built winners towering over their rivals and teammates on the podium has dismayed fans of the sport.

'This is so egregious I can't imagine how people watched this happen and thought this was ok,' wrote one.

Leading the field was Jordan Lothrop who was achieving podium finishes against men in the Victoria Cycling League in her native Canada as recently as last year.

The sailing fan from British Columbia has worked as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist and was ranked 22nd in the men's Victoria Cycling League this time in 2023.

Second place went to Jenna Lingwood, 43, who raced as a man until 2017 and is now a member of the Oregon-based women's cyclocross squad Team S&M.

She is a physics graduate of the University of Washington who works in Portland for Intel as a Supply Chain R&D Engineer. 

Taking third spot was Californian Eva Lin, 28, who used to race as Henry Lin for San Jose State University's men's team, but whose placings have soared since she switched to its women's team in 2022.

The sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale, last year banned transgender athletes who have transitioned after male puberty from competing in international events.

USA Cycling introduced new rules in January requiring transgender athletes to undergo 'elite athlete fairness evaluations' by independent medical panels if they wish to compete in top events.

They must also prove that their testosterone levels have been below 2.5 nanomoles per liter for at least 24 months.

But those competing at amateur level need only compete a 'self-identity verification request', which will be reviewed by a USA Cycling Technical Director.

The rule change came amid outrage at two trans athletes taking first and second at the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships in October.

The debate over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in female sports is one of the most contentious social issues of the moment.

Supporters say it is cruel to ban trans women from competing in something that they enjoy - and highlight how vulnerable the transgender community are to violence.

Critics say it is simply unfair to let athletes who have gone through male puberty compete against biological women. The science surrounding lowering testosterone levels is still being studied - but wins by some trans athletes would suggest they retain a considerable advantage over biological women.

Anti-trans campaigners say it is also unfair to let trans women athletes take scholarships and prize money intended for biological female athletes.  

Tessa Johnson, 25, won gold and Evelyn Williamson, 30, silver, in the women's SingleSpeed, leaving bronze medal winner Allison Zmuda as the only biological female on the podium.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was hoping to represent the US at next month's Summer Olympics after winning an NCAA swimming championship in 2022.

But last month the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland upheld a World Aquatics ban on transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in international events.

The NCAA allows trans athletes to compete in women's events if they have completed a year of testosterone suppression treatment and if they meet the testosterone level required by their sport's national or international governing body.

But it announced a review of its policy in May amid continued concerns that growing up as a man is enough to guarantee a permanent physical advantage.

And the debate was reignited earlier this month when Nikki Hiltz, a transgender non-binary runner qualified for US Olympic team after winning the Women's 1,500-meter race at trials over the weekend.

The Biden White House proposed last year to revise Title IX to bar schools from enforcing bans on transgender athletes.

It announced extended Title IX protections for LGBTQ students last month but was silent on the issue of trans athletes in schools, insisting its review is 'ongoing'.

Meanwhile at least 20 US states have approved some version of a ban on school-aged transgender athletes.

But the Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox vetoed a trans sports ban because his state had just four transgender athletes among 85,000 schoolchildren.

Lothrop, Lingwood and Lin were three of just four transgender cyclists competing at the Marymore Grand Prix over the weekend, but their domination in their chosen event did little to placate their critics.

'There was no Women's Madison at the Marymoor Grand Prix,' wrote one. 'If men are racing against women it's an Open event.'

'Says so much about the male psyche to me! What empty 'wins'! Embarrassing for everyone concerned!' added another.

'Way to go men. Show them females who's the strongest.'

The venue, which has hosted eight US championships says that cyclists in Category three, four, and Novice races 'may self-select the field that best fits with their gender identity'.

'Athletes in categories one and two may participate in the gendered field which is most athletically appropriate, as determined by the USA Cycling Transgender Athlete Participation Policies on Elite Competition.

'We pride ourselves on being an inclusive track and are following the USACycling rules when it comes to transgender participation.'