Following online discussions surrounding Austin Killips' victory in June's Belgian Waffle Ride in North Carolina, the cycling event has introduced updated category guidelines. These changes, effective August 1st, will be in place for the upcoming Cedar City, Utah race on August 26th and introduce an open category alongside existing classifications.

The organizers emphasized their commitment to fair competition and inclusivity in a statement, saying their goal is to create positive experiences for all participants while upholding the integrity of the sport. The new structure includes three distinct categories: female (for those born female), male (for those born and/or identifying as male), and open (for all racers, irrespective of gender identity).

Equal prize money will be distributed across all three categories, typically rewarding the top three finishers, and in some instances, the top five.

Killips' win, where she outpaced Paige Onweller and Flavia Oliveira by significant margins, drew criticism from figures like tennis icon Martina Navratilova and former Olympian Mara Yamauchi.