Veteran cyclist Julie Cutts Peterson is speaking out after refusing to step onto the podium at a national competition where she finished second behind a transgender athlete.
Appearing on Fox News’ America Reports, Peterson explained her decision to forgo the medal ceremony at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin, where transgender cyclist Kate “KJ” Phillips claimed gold.
“At the finish line, I was upset. I said, ‘I didn’t want to race against a man,’” Peterson recalled. “The crowd gasped, but I wasn’t going to stay silent. I believe in freedom of speech, in science, and in fairness in women’s sports.”
Peterson, a longtime competitor in the women’s category, criticized USA Cycling for failing to notify participants ahead of time that a transgender athlete would be competing. She argued that the omission denied athletes like herself the opportunity to make an informed choice about participating.
“Out of Nowhere Came Phillips”
Describing the final sprint of the race, Peterson said she was neck and neck with another female competitor when Phillips surged ahead.
“I knew at that moment—that was a man’s sprint,” she said, claiming her experience racing with both men and women helped her identify the difference in power output.
Phillips, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was reportedly not listed on the registration sheet made available to competitors ahead of the race—a move Peterson and others are calling deceptive.
“There was no warning. His name wasn’t there. We weren’t told,” Peterson said. “We’re hearing similar concerns from other athletes now. This wasn’t an accident—it was intentional.”
Policy and Backlash
Fox News confirmed that USA Cycling’s transgender inclusion policy requires athletes to submit a written and signed declaration affirming their gender identity as female. Critics argue that this policy alone does not address concerns about fairness in competition.
Peterson called the current framework inadequate: “There is no amount of makeup, money, or marketing that can change the Y chromosome. And that’s why we are taking a stand.”
Fellow racer Debbie Milne backed Peterson’s account, saying she also checked the competitor list prior to the event and found no mention of Phillips.
“I would have reconsidered attending if I had known,” Milne said, citing the high cost and long travel involved in competing.
USA Cycling has not commented on whether the name was intentionally left off the public roster, but in a response to Fox News Digital, the organization pointed to its official transgender eligibility guidelines.
“Built for Women”
Peterson, who describes herself as a proud American and Christian, says her protest was not about politics but principle.
“I was raised to believe in biology and truth. I believe most Americans, and many people around the world, support keeping men out of women’s sports,” she said.
Her stance echoes a broader national debate over fairness in women’s athletics, as more athletes and organizations grapple with how to navigate inclusion and competitive equity.
As the controversy continues, Peterson says she’s standing her ground — for herself, her fellow female athletes, and the integrity of women’s sports.
