Professional cyclists are well accustomed to the highs and lows of the sport, but for transgender racer Austin Killips, the 'cruel optimism' that her dedication and intense training could result in a cycling career was crushed when, on July 14, 2023, the UCI announced it was reversing its inclusion policy and instituting an immediate ban on transgender women competing in elite women's races.
Killips had the race of her life at the Tour of the Gila, riding to victory on the final stage and taking home the overall classification, only to face an onslaught of abuse from critics who believe that inclusion of transgender women in women's fields is unfair.
