Former Olympic Cyclist Supports Female-Only Categories in Sports

Inga Thompson, a former Olympic cyclist, recently voiced her support for female-only categories in athletics during an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’. This discussion followed a rally held in Portland where Thompson praised WNBA star Sophie Cunningham’s courage in advocating for fairness in girls’ sports. She emphasized the ongoing struggle to uphold Title IX protections by sports organizations grappling with policies on biological males competing in women’s events.

Nicola Cranmer, the general manager of the UCI women’s cycling team Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28, also shared her perspective. Her team recently competed in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic where a trans athlete participated but did not finish. Cranmer, leading the longest-standing professional women’s cycling team, highlighted the need to maintain “integrity and fairness”. She stated, “I have devoted more than 20 years to women’s cycling, fostering opportunities for female athletes. It’s crucial to protect the integrity and fairness of the women’s category.”

Cranmer stressed that eligibility should follow transparent rules set by sports governing bodies like the UCI. These rules should apply uniformly to every athlete. Concerns arose when a biological male participated, raising questions about the adherence to UCI policy.

Event officials, quoted by OutKick, explained that all riders held valid international racing licenses verified against UCI records. Amanda Tait, the trans athlete, met licensing requirements and was permitted to participate. However, Tait was dropped from the race under standard time-cut procedures, before eligibility became an issue.

Tait, who transitioned from USA Cycling’s women’s development category to pro-level competition within 18 months, has competed in over 60 women’s events. This includes placing fourth at the USA Cycling Masters and Junior Road National Championships. Tait’s rapid ascent in women’s competitions has been scrutinized by pro-life advocates challenging USA Cycling’s competition policy, revised in September 2025.

USA Cycling’s current policy defines ‘female’ based on biological definitions, beginning with self-certification and verified by original birth certificates or similar documents. Critics argue it leaves gaps that can be manipulated in states allowing amendments to sex markers.

The debate echoes controversy from 2023 involving trans cyclist Austin Killips, whose victories over female riders intensified concerns about fairness. USA Cycling maintains authority over category status disputes, limiting the ability for race participants to contest eligibility directly.

Requests for comments from USA Cycling’s Bonnie Walker and the UCI were unaddressed at the time of this article’s publication.

Jackson Thompson, a reporter for Fox News Digital, covers sports with a focus on political and cultural issues, often with an investigative approach. His work has influenced federal actions on Title IX enforcement and has been cited in various major media outlets.