Austin Killips Is Not Done Yet—In Fact, She’s Just Getting Started
In July, the UCI, world cycling’s governing body, announced that they would be banning transgender women athletes from women’s events. They announced in a press release, “Female transgender athletes who transitioned after male puberty will no longer be able to compete in women’s races on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”
The announcement came after American cyclist Austin Killips became the first openly transgender woman to win an official UCI cycling event in May. Killips won in the fifth stage of the Tour of the Gila, one of the most prestigious stage races in the U.S.
And she did so having adhered to the UCI policy put in place last year, which required transgender athletes to have serum testosterone levels of 2.5 nanomoles per liter or less for at least 24 months before competing in a women’s event.
Also in May, Killips took second place in the Belgian Waffle Ride Canada. And in June she won BWR North Carolina. But by July, BWR announced their new policy regarding transgender athletes at their races. Effective immediately, they announced that only racers who were born female were allowed to compete in their female classification.
With the July announcements, Killips’ plans were halted. In some ways, she was stripped of part of her identity. But she’s still riding. A lot. She’s still training hard. And one thing that this has forced her to realize is, she loves long solo adventures. She loves just being on the bike.
Moving Forward
Killips has been fairly quiet on social media for months, but recently she posted to Instagram that she’s working toward a new plan. New goals and a new outlook. She launched a Patreon where she wrote, “I expected to feel more defeated in the wake of this but I keep coming back to how much joy I've found in cycling. The gratitude I feel when I reflect on my experiences is so overwhelming.
“Nothing can take away the friendships it has given me and the moments I’ve shared with so many people that I love dearly. I have a lifetime’s worth of stories and memories to cherish and because of that I remain eager to again give everything I have to whatever I pursue next. A disappointing end isn’t enough to dissuade me from remembering and believing that I find happiness through these all consuming projects.”
Killips told Bicycling, “Sport is better when it’s inclusive—it’s better when more people are represented and more people feel inclined to hop in and find joy. I hope that I can continue to be a positive person in sport and in life, and use what sway and platform I have to do things that are interesting and that align with my morals and values.”
For now, that means looking ahead to big projects like FKTs and bikepacking. “The thing that has just been an itch that I’ve wanted to scratch forever is the Tour Divide,” Killips said. The 2,745 mile route goes from Banff, Alberta to the New Mexico/Mexico border. The official race kicks off each second Friday of June. Right now Killips is putting in tons of time backcountry skiing to build a base of epic endurance.
How to Support Austin
The Patreon is the best way to commit to what Killips is working toward in her next iteration as an athlete. She’s also actively seeking sponsors and bike/gear support. But she’s adamant about working with brands and companies that align with her values and goals. Killips feels like this is an interesting time for cycling, and one that may signal a turning point.
“I feel like the fact that the winningest UCI World Tour team was in financial limbo for a period this year, and that GCN is shuttering—these are baffling signs that even things that have a very high adoption rate are falling apart. And so I think trying to seek out financial support from outside of the industry proper is something worth attempting.
“My hope is that maybe somehow I can build up a support base that’s stable. And I’m very grateful for the folks who have helped sponsor me and support me from the beginning. I’m very lucky to have a diehard community of people in Chicago and New England, who have my back. It’s very comforting to know that there are places I can rest my head. I’m very privileged and fortunate to have a community that has been super supportive.”
While Killips thought her goal in life was to be the best bike racer possible, she’s making peace with a new and evolving future. She wrote, “I do not need to line up at a World Cup again, but I won’t be able to sleep at night if I’m not fighting for the next woman who deserves a shot at everything this sport has given me. We don’t get to choose where these things take us and that’s okay.”
You Might Also Like
