The U.S. Cyclocross National Championships Held Its First-Ever Non-Binary Race. Here’s Why it Matters
Inclusivity in competitive cycling took an important step forward with the inclusion of a nonbinary race category at the US Cyclocross National Championships. “CX Nats,” as it's known to fans, is taking place this weekend in Hartford, CT and it was the first time that a nonbinary category was included by the USA Cycling sanctioning body.
USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Results
Saturday brought the first-ever nonbinary race to the national championships (the USA Cycling website incorrectly lists the race in the results as “CX Men Non-Binary 18+ Cat 1/2/3/4/5”). Summer Newlands (Team S&M) pulled away to claim the win ahead of second place Kristin Sundquist (Green Mountain CX).
To the riders, the inclusion of the nonbinary category is an important step froward.
“Meaningfully including nonbinary athletes in sports is critical because we all deserve to be seen for who we are, and to compete as we are,” says Anne Lieberman, Director of Policy and Programs at Athlete Ally. “We have more and more young people identifying as gender expansive or nonbinary who are looking for their place in the sports world, and event organizers have a responsibility to create spaces for all athletes to participate.”
Bicycling spoke to the athletes who raced about the addition of a gender expansive category and what it means to them, what they feel needs to happen next.
What it means to the athletes
“Starting a couple of years ago I promised myself that I would not enter into a race where I wasn’t able to be my whole self,” says athlete Sam Hansen, who races for Ann Arbor Velo Club. “For me that means being able to race in nonbinary and gender expansive categories.”
After a gender expansive category was added to MICX, Hansen raced the entire series—and won.
“It was amazing to be able to ride a whole series as who I truly am,” they said. “As the MICX series and Michigan State gender expansive champion I was excited that USA Cycling added nonbinary to nationals this year.”
Henrietta “Hen” Watts credits the support of their team during the season leading up the nationals as a major factor in them racing.
“As I started to come to terms with my trans-ness a few years ago, it started to create friction with my love for ’cross," they said. “Until recently, I didn’t feel at most races that there was an explicit spot for me. But this past season, a couple of things changed.”
"First, I joined the Breakfast Racing Team, which has provided me with so much support to help me get to Hartford, but also, and more importantly, they’ve helped me feel really secure as a trans competitive cyclist.”
“I’m in the nonbinary category because it feels like the right place for me,” Watts says. “It’s a true privilege to be here at the beginning of the growth of this category which I hope helps make competitive cycling more inclusive.”
For racer Kristin Sundquist, racing in the nonbinary category was not their original goal for this racing season.
“The nonbinary race is the only sanctioned race that I am allowed to do this year. I was preparing to race in the women’s elite field this season when the UCI suddenly changed their rules around transgender athletes. I was pretty devastated because we had all these sponsors in line and I felt like I was letting people down,” says Sundquist, who races for Green Mountain Cyclocross.
“Despite that I am still super happy to have this opportunity to race and the prospect of being the first nonbinary CX champion is incredible. I am hopeful that this category will continue to grow in the following years. And if it weren’t for my team and sponsors I likely wouldn’t be here racing.”
Newlands, who races for Team S&M CX, said it feels like inclusion and representation is gaining momentum in cycling. For them, Saturday’s win was the culmination of a long-held ambition for the racer.
“Having raced for ten years and coming up through junior ranks racing national championships, I’ve always had my eyes on a title. It feels great to race be able to do so in a race with other trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people,” they said.
What’s next
“I will admit some surprise that USA Cycling [added a nonbinary category] as [the organization] has not traditionally been the best ally of nonbinary and trans athletes, and it is great to see them grow as an organization and learn from the grass roots cyclocross series’ and gravel races how to be more inclusive,” Hansen says.
“The next step is to open up cycling even more so that it is no longer surprising when there are nonbinary fields, so that it is not just a sea of same color faces at the start line, so that any person with any intersectional set of identities who wants to take part feels welcome in every bike race. And for sanctioning bodies like USA Cycling and UCI to recognize the amazing work being done by groups like Black Foxes, Chicago United, Queer Gravel, RIDE, Native Women Ride, and so many others and instead of doing their own programs, partnering with the organizations already on the ground and giving them money that could really push all of this forward,” they said.
“This race happening means that it is possible for USA Cycling to listen and do better, and now we need to see them doing it consistently,” Hansen adds.
“[The nonbinary category] is the right place for me right now, and I want to help create space for other racers who feel like they don’t belong in a gendered category,” says Watts.
“That said, we have to be careful that this does not become a place to segregate gender-expansive racers who would rather race in a gendered category,” Watts added. “After all, there are about as many expressions of gender as there are people. I hope that the inclusion of the nonbinary race category helps make ’cross and the greater cycling world more inclusive, and I hope I can do my small part by racing and making noise about it!”
Newlands is already looking towards the future. “I’m looking forward to seeing more nonbinary competitors join this race in the future, as well as coming back next year to defend the title. I’m working on a project called BRAP Biking Club, focused on increasing access for trans and nonbinary people in the Northwest to bike racing on a local and national level.”
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