Bridges: I’ve got no advantage

TRANSGENDER cyclist Emily Bridges insists she would have no physical advantage against women, revealing she has been through ‘dark times’ because of the backlash against her. The Brit, 21, became eligible for women’s events after hormone therapy to lower her testosterone to the level required by British Cycling. But she was blocked from racing in last month’s National Omnium Championships after cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, referred her case to an expert panel. British Cycling also then suspended its policy, pending a review, after complaints that it was not fair. But Bridges told DIVA Magazine: ‘I don’t have any advantage over my competitors and I’ve got data to back that up. ‘Hormone replacement therapy has a massive effect. The performance drop-off that I’ve seen is massive. ‘There have been some pretty dark times. There’s so much hate and criticism. We’re the current punching bag populist movements go for. We are, at the moment, who the culture war is against.’