Trans cyclist Emily Bridges speaks out after British Championship ban

A transgender cyclist said that she just wants to race competitively again, after being told that she was not eligible to participate in upcoming championships.

Emily Bridges, 21, was hoping to race in the British National Omnium Championships tomorrow.

But she was told on Wednesday that she was no longer deemed eligible.

'Despite the public announcement, I still have little clarity around their finding of my ineligibility under their regulations,' she said in a statement. 

'I am an athlete, and I just want to race competitively again, within the Regulations set by British Cycling and UCI after careful consideration of the research around transgender athletes.

'No one should have to choose between being who they are, and participating in the sport that they love.'

Ms Bridges has yet to race in the female category and said that she has been judged 'despite a total lack of evidence against me, purely because I am trans'. 

She said that she has requested clarity around her 'alleged ineligibility' and hopes that the decision will be reconsidered.

She added: 'Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this, your messages have meant the world this past 10 days.' 

Yesterday, Ms Bridges' aunt told MailOnline that barring her niece from competing against Olympic hero Dame Laura Kenny and other women is 'unfair'.

Sharron Davies said: 'It’s not transphobic to want fair sport - it’s anti-female to not'.

Female riders threatened to pull out of the National Omnium Championships in Derby tomorrow before Miss Bridges was blocked from racing against them because she had competed as a man until a few weeks ago. 

Ms Davies, the former Olympic swimming star, accused the sport's ruling bodies of 'a blatant fudge'.

She said: 'I think