Transgender cyclist wins women’s bike race Tour of the Gila

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Transgender cyclist Austin Killips won the Tour of the Gila in the women’s category, and some on social media weren’t happy.

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Killips broke free from the pack late in the final stage of the tour in New Mexico, finishing at 3:07:16 ahead of Marcela Prieto and Cassandra Nelson by a margin of 89 seconds, according to the New York Post.

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Killips took home $35,000 U.S. with the win, but was ripped on social media by some for competing in the women’s category, according to FOX.

The 27-year-old was fully sanctioned to compete in the event under the rules set by cycling’s governing body, UCI.

The high-profile “I Heart Bikes” Twitter account received 3,000 likes for a post on the subject:

“It’s a historic day. For the first time, a man has won the @UCI_cycling women’s @TouroftheGila. Thank you @AmyD_Foundation for making this possible.”

Former world champion cyclist Alison Sydor, of Edmonton, also tweeted: “The current UCI rules that allow males to compete in female cycling events are not fair to female athletes. Time for UCI to admit this current rule situation is unsustainable and leaving a black mark on cycling as a fair sport for females.”

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Interestingly, opponents Prieto and Cassandra Nelson did not complain publicly.

Killips’ emergence on the cyclocross circuit was part of the reason Hannah Arensman, a 35-time winner on the national cyclocross circuit, retired from the sport recently, according to the Post.

Arensman’s protest towards transgender cyclists competing in the women’s category made it all the way to the Supreme Court.