A transgender cyclist, Lesley Mumford, secured first place in her age group at the Desert Gravel Co2Ut, a 100-mile gravel race. Her victory, however, led to an unusual podium scene where she stood alone to receive her medal. The second and third-place finishers, Lindsey Kriete and Michelle Van Sickle, were not present for the ceremony.
Mumford, who transitioned in 2017, competed in the women's 40-49 age division, finishing ahead of 43 other female athletes and securing sixth place overall in the women's category. She shared a photo of herself on the podium on Instagram, expressing uncertainty about the other competitors' absence.
The race included a nonbinary division, but Mumford opted to participate in the women's category. Her win sparked online commentary, including a tweet from former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who questioned Mumford's decision to compete in the women's category given the existence of a nonbinary division.
Three-time Olympian and Tour de France medalist also weighed in, characterizing the absence of the second and third-place finishers as "silent protests."
Following the event, Lindsey Kriete contacted Fox News to clarify that her absence was not a protest but due to socializing with friends and leaving the venue after they finished. Fox News attempted to contact Michelle Van Sickle for comment, but received no immediate response.
Before transitioning six years ago, Mumford served in law enforcement for 17 years, notably as a command-level officer. She recounted a poignant moment during her transition when her son announced the news to her colleagues at a staff meeting.
[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect Lindsey Kriete’s explanation for her absence from the podium and to clarify that it was not a protest against transgender athletes. Previous versions included commentary suggesting otherwise. We have also noted our attempts to contact Michelle Van Sickle for clarification.]
