Cooke urges cycling to create a separate category for trans athletes

Olympic champion Nicole Cooke has called on the cycling authorities to create a separate category for trans athletes.

Cooke is the first rider to speak out on the issue following the controversy around British trans cyclist Emily Bridges.

The former world No1 said that it was unfair on both biological females and trans women to expect them to compete against each other.

Cooke, who won gold in the road race at the 2008 Olympics, makes her comments in a column for The Mail on Sunday the day after Bridges was due to race Olympic champion Laura Kenny. 'There must be fairness to both trans and biological females,' Cooke says. 'They must each have their own category so each group can enjoy fair competition on an equal basis.'

Cycling's ruling body, the UCI, barred Bridges from taking part in yesterday's National Omnium Championships only on Wednesday, with British Cycling reporting that she needed to wait until her male racing licence expired.

Her entry into the race sparked heated debate last week, with sources telling this newspaper that international cyclists were afraid of speaking out because of the impact on their careers.

Cooke, who also won the Commonwealth road race in a glittering career, said it was unfair for biological females to have to compete against athletes who have profited from the irreversible benefits of male puberty.

The Swansea-born ex-cyclist added that it was also unjust on trans athletes to expect them to compete on a level playing field against opponents over whom they have a clear advantage.

An outspoken critic of doping within her sport, Cooke expressed sympathy with Bridges and said the fault laid with the rules laid down by the sport's authorities.

The UCI stipulates that a trans woman can