Olympic Cyclist Inga Thompson Discusses Protecting Girls’ Sports

Olympic Cyclist Inga Thompson’s Views

Former Olympic cyclist Inga Thompson recently spoke on Fox & Friends Weekend about the importance of female-only categories in athletics. She praised WNBA player Sophie Cunningham for her courage in advocating for fairness in girls’ sports.

Thompson highlighted the ongoing struggle of 50 years to protect Title IX rights as sports organizations grapple with policies around biological males competing in women’s events.

Nicola Cranmer’s Statement

Nicola Cranmer, general manager of the UCI women’s cycling team Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28, issued a statement following her team’s participation in an event featuring a trans athlete.

Cranmer emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and fairness within the sport, especially after learning of a male cyclist participating in the women’s competition. She stressed the need for clear and consistent eligibility rules from governing bodies like the UCI.

I have spent more than 20 years working in women’s cycling and creating opportunities for female athletes, so I feel strongly about protecting the integrity and fairness of the women’s category.

Eligibility and Policy Concerns

The UCI has established specific criteria for participation in women’s categories, and Cranmer believes adherence to these regulations is crucial for competitive fairness. A race official mentioned that all riders had appropriate licenses, yet questions arose about one athlete’s eligibility.

Officials stated the responsibility for eligibility verification lies with USA Cycling, not individual registration officials, as highlighted during a recent race.

Racing Incident

During a race in Philadelphia, Amanda Tait, a trans athlete, participated but did not finish. Tait previously finished fourth in a major event, highlighting the challenges in maintaining fair competition.

USA Cycling introduced a new competition policy in 2025, though critics argue it does not sufficiently protect the women’s division, emphasizing that eligibility relies on self-certification or original birth certificates.

Previous Controversies

This issue mirrors a 2023 controversy involving trans cyclist Austin Killips, whose victories prompted fairness debates in women’s cycling.

USA Cycling remains solely responsible for challenging riders’ category status, prompting calls for an independent mechanism to contest eligibility issues during races.

USA Cycling and UCI representatives were contacted for comment but had not responded before publication.