Veteran cyclist Julie Cutts Peterson is making headlines after she refused to stand on the podium following a loss to transgender competitor Kate “KJ” Phillips at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin.
Appearing on Fox News’ America Reports, Peterson said she was stunned by the result and expressed frustration that she had to race against a trans athlete.
“At the finish line I was upset. I said, ‘I did not want to race against a man,’” she recalled. “In my mind I was like, ‘I can say that. I have freedom of speech.’”
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Peterson argued that the final Cycling sprint confirmed her concerns. Saying it resembled male cyclist competition based on her years of experience in both men’s and women’s events.
“I knew at that sprint that that was a man’s sprint,” she said.
Peterson also accused USA Cycling of failing to disclose Phillips’ participation. She claims the registration list did not include Phillips’ name before the race, a point backed by fellow competitor Debbie Milne, who also finished behind Phillips.
“KJ’s name was not on that list,” Milne said in a separate appearance on Fox & Friends, calling the situation “deception.”
According to Milne and Peterson, Phillips had been registered since mid-June. But it was not listed in the final public entry list. Peterson said if she had known, she might have skipped the event entirely, which required a 400-mile trip and significant expenses.
Fox News reported that USA Cycling responded by referencing its transgender eligibility policy. This requires only a signed gender declaration submitted to the technical director.
Peterson concluded her remarks by saying this issue goes beyond one race.
“There’s no amount of makeup, money, or marketing that can change that Y-chromosome,” she said. “That’s why we are taking a stand.”
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