The cyclocross world is bracing itself for a repeat of last year's anti-transgender protests at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Hartford, Connecticut, on December 11.

This year, transgender women are more prominent on the UCI elite women's podium. Austin Killips (Nice Bikes) has come from last year's top 20 to win last month's Northampton C2 race and is in contention for Sunday's title.

As the results improve, so does the attention, and not just the positive ones. Cycling News has seen social media posts claiming that dozens of people have signed a "secret" protest at the national championships.

In 2021, during the elite women's championship race in Wheaton, Illinois, a local feminist group holding a sign that read "Protect Women's Sports" was part of a national anti-transgender campaign not limited to sporting events. reportedly harassed and heckled the women.

USA Cycling was heavily criticized for its lack of response, and officials stood nearby but took no action to remove the offending group.

Cycling News has been unable to confirm the legitimacy of the protest rumors. Beth Stelzer, founder of Save Women's Sport, which the protesters claimed to represent last year, refused to comment or confirm their plans, saying she had left the organization.

Assuming the protest story is true, Cycling News contacted USA Cycling to see what steps they had taken to ensure rider safety.

"Following additional questions related to the protests at the 2021 Cyclocross Nationals and at USA Cycling events, our staff and legal counsel reviewed several policies related to the conduct of fans, spectators, and participants of other national governing bodies and sports organizations We have been working with the U.S. Department of Justice on this issue," replied Chuck Hodge, Race and Event Chief. As a result, we developed and published the USA Cycling Fan Code of Conduct (open in new tab) this spring.

." We are aware of the potential for protests at the CX Nationals in Hartford and have been working with relevant landowners and agencies to implement the policy locally, as we have done for every national championship since we introduced the policy in early 2022."

USA Cycling avoided specific mention of what security will be in place to implement the code of conduct, stating that: "The scenarios that will affect our ability to implement this policy, including the type of site (private or public), how events are permitted, local rules and regulations, etc. are There are many. Hartford requires all attendees to comply with this policy or leave the event site.

"In addition to the above Fan Code of Conduct, USA Cycling members shall abide by USA Cycling's rules and policies, including the Member Code of Conduct.

Cycling News contacted several riders in the elite women's field, but few agreed to go on record about their views on racing with trans women. Defending US National Champion Clara Honsinger took a diplomatic approach, telling Cycling News that it was "a really difficult situation" and "up to the UCI to make the right decision."

Pan American champion Leylin Nuss, who finished second to Honsinger at last year's national championships, described the topic as "the big elephant in the room."

"Nobody comes up to an athlete and asks how we feel," Nuss told Cycling News.

"I only wish we could have a panel discussion [with trans women] in a safe place. Then we could all ask a lot of questions, more or less clear up any misunderstandings, and then just move on normally."

Nuss said that all riders must race within the rules set by the UCI and welcomed the addition of more competitive riders to a field that has seen many top riders such as Katie Compton, Katie Keogh, and Rebecca Farlinger spill out.

"The rules are what they are. So we can't just sit back and think about what advantages she has. We just have to prepare ourselves," Nuss said. '[The trans woman] is a competitor I want to beat every time I go to the line, a strong competitor, one that really makes me run.

She said she does not want protesters to ruin anyone's racing experience and that the controversy distracts from the abilities and accomplishments of all women.

"Throw Clara into an elite men's field and I bet she'd be in the top 10. We are strong and fierce competitors," Nuss said, adding that a strong rider forces her to "be prepared to exploit any weaknesses and race tactically."

She did not register the riders who heckled her at last year's championships, saying she had tunnel vision during the race, but later spoke up when she heard what happened.

"I don't think there's room for hate. It was a great event. But another rider who was in the same field had a completely different experience and was being yelled at for hate speech and whatnot. So I hope there's no (protests). It sucks for the sport to have all this negativity going on."

Killipse, who finished 10th in his hometown last year, was also unaware of the group during the race, writing in an Instagram post last December, "I had no idea those ghouls were there until after the race."

"I was lucky enough to stay local, but if we allow this kind of behavior, perhaps the next person won't. Racers should not be targeted and harassed and I will fight tooth and nail to ensure that this does not happen to other racers. Attending an event to incite hatred towards one individual or minority group is over the top. It is not to start a dialogue, but to put a target on our backs, and it has always been that way," Killips wrote.

Even elite riders who do not support allowing trans women to race do not want to see organized demonstrations against Hartford riders.

Cycling News spoke with one racer who questioned trans eligibility on condition of anonymity.

"The explosion of transgender women on the UCI podium is a new situation. It doesn't affect us when the podium is not involved. When these women are on the podium, their exposure increases dramatically and people become more aware of this situation."

This rider stated that people on both sides of this issue feel at risk. Transgender women and allies are more fearful, pointing to a recent shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs, where the shooter was charged with a hate crime. On the other hand, she says the cancellation culture makes riders who question the inclusion of transgender people afraid to express their views.

"I support LGBTQ people, I am a member of the community, and I support transitions. We don't know enough about the regulations and the requirements, and I don't think we should be afraid to speak up about them.

"But I don't support hate of any kind. That's no good. It's not constructive. But we don't feel safe asking questions in public, and we could be targeted and lose our sponsors and our careers. A lot of racers feel that way."

"I'm a small-scale racer, but I'm not a big fan.

The stakes are much higher for transgender racers who fear that the recent escalation by small but vocal anti-trans groups will spill over into the cycling community and eventually lead to violence.

Molly Cameron, manager of the Point S. Nokian women's team and a transgender racer for decades, said the protests at last year's Nationals were alarming.

She wants USA Cycling to use more direct messaging in support of the rules.

"The regulations, requirements, and rules regarding the participation of transgender athletes have been well established and publicized for decades," Cameron told Cycling News.

"At this point, questions about transgender participation at any level of competition are simply willful ignorance of sporting rules and established science, and discrimination based on perceived bias and misinformation."

In response to the protesters, Cameron suggests that the more effective course of action would be to address the sports authorities rather than harass individual athletes who are legally participating in the women's field.

"Fairness is defined by the rules that govern any sport or competition. But if you want to bring about change, work with the governing bodies, work with the UCI, work with USA Cycling." [Those who don't want to see trans women in sports are already doing so. I have no problem with that."

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But the shooting in Colorado Springs "escalated things," she said.

"It is a huge leap for people who are not part of any marginalized community to understand that anti-trans protests and harassment are hate. But we can directly link fear-mongering and misinformation to the killing of LGBTQ people. It's not just the shootings in Colorado Springs. The cycling community doesn't get it and doesn't see it. We know that other athletes do not want anyone to be hurt or assaulted. I just don't think they understand the direct connection between these protests and the actual violence."

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