Female Cyclists Allege They Were Tricked Into Racing Against Transgender Competitor: ‘It Was Hidden from Us’ |

Controversy Erupts as Male Cyclist Claims Victory in Women’s Event

This week in Wisconsin, the cycling community is reeling after a male competitor, who identifies as a woman, captured victory in a women’s race, prompting accusations of deceit among his female counterparts.

In a candid interview with “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday, cyclist Debbie Milne expressed her outrage, stating that USA Cycling, the governing body of the event, failed to disclose the male competitor’s name in the pre-race listings. “It was hidden from us,” Milne lamented, highlighting a perceived lack of transparency.

“Deception was involved.”@usacycling is being accused of “hiding” a trans athlete’s participation in a race after cyclist Debbie Milne competed against the athlete and later explained why her friend boycotted the podium following the competition. pic.twitter.com/7hJHgodSZB

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 3, 2025

The event in question was the Lyons Masters and Junior Road Race National Championships held in Lyons, Wisconsin. In the women’s aged 55-59 category, a transgender athlete named Katheryn Phillips emerged victorious, raising significant concerns among competitors regarding the fairness of the race.

Milne asserted that many racers were unaware that Phillips would be participating, revealing, “We came to compete and only found out during and after the race that there had been another competitor we thought just added.” This statement was further complicated by claims that Phillips had been listed as a competitor since mid-June, a fact that Milne and others were allegedly not privy to.

Second-place finisher Julie Peterson voiced her frustration, stating that had she known about Phillips’ participation, she would have reconsidered her costly travel and time commitments. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have spent thousands of dollars in travel and time off work to come and do a race,” Peterson lamented, noting her unsuccessful attempts to address her concerns with race officials.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to race against a man,’ and they quickly scolded me and said, ‘Oh, you can’t call him a man.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, he is a man,’” she recounted, underscoring the tension surrounding the issue.

Social media has been abuzz, with users sharing what appears to be evidence that Phillips’ registration was concealed prior to the event. One tweet claimed that Phillips’ entry was hidden on the @BikeReg website, which has faced scrutiny for allegedly obscuring male entries in women’s categories in the past.

“Katheryn” (James) Phillips’s registration was hidden on the @BikeReg website.

BikeReg, an official partner of @usacycling, has a history of hiding entries of males in the women’s category.

As you can see, BikeReg says there are 11 entries but only 10 are shown. pic.twitter.com/SdLNiR7Vyj

— (@i_heart__bikes) July 1, 2025

The ongoing debate about men competing in women’s sports continues to unfold with a peculiar sense of absurdity, reminiscent of an Alice-in-Wonderland scenario. Advocates for transgender rights often assert that there are no inherent physical differences between men and women, promoting the idea that as long as individuals identify as female, they should be allowed to compete in women’s events. Yet, this perspective raises questions about fairness and safety for female competitors.

What distinguishes this particular incident is the allegation that race organizers actively concealed the identity of a male participant, which could suggest a recognition of the inherent flaws in the competition’s structure. Peterson’s refusal to accept her second-place medal further underscores the discontent surrounding the event.

A man won the @usacycling women’s masters 55-59 national championship road race today.

Here’s “Katheryn/KJ” (James) Phillips proudly standing on the top step.

Second place and rightful winner Julie Peterson is absent from the podium.

Why does USAC continue to allow this? pic.twitter.com/zFdXC5nQ8a

— (@i_heart__bikes) July 1, 2025

For years, the narrative surrounding transgender athletes has been contentious, with growing resistance against the tide of activism in sports. Recent developments, including the University of Pennsylvania’s decision to restrict transgender individuals from participating in women’s sports, signal a potential shift in the conversation. The university’s actions, which include stripping titles from transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, are indicative of a broader reconsideration of policies that may have overlooked women’s rights and safety.

As noted by outspoken women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines, the hope is that these changes will reflect a renewed commitment to preserving the dignity and rights of female athletes across all levels of competition.

While many individuals may empathize with those experiencing gender dysphoria, there remains a palpable frustration with those who seemingly exploit these complex issues for competitive advantage. The responsibility lies with organizations that perpetuate an environment where such disparities can exist, either through negligence or by choice.

Ultimately, this evolving narrative should encourage a comprehensive dialogue about fairness in sports, ensuring that the integrity of competition is upheld while respecting the rights and identities of all individuals involved.

This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.