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Original poster

Trans cyclist Natalie Van Gogh retires from women’s cycling at 47

34 replies

CatsOperatingInGangs · 21/10/2021 15:49

I know Laurel Hubbard springs to mind when we talk about older trans athletes in women’s sport but Van Gogh has been competing in women’s elite cycling for 16 years since transitioning.

Van Gogh avoids scrutiny mainly because women’s cycling is not covered much in the UK unless it’s the Olympics. It’s an incredibly tough life carving out a career in women’s cycling as there not much money and less opportunities for women as there’s fewer teams than in the men’s category.

It makes me sad to think how many women have been denied a place in their own sport due to NVG being included.

cyclingtips.com/2021/10/i-am-just-natalie-not-natalie-the-transgender-cyclist/

OP posts:
aliasundercover · 21/10/2021 17:23

Wow, Van Gogh must be an exceptional athlete to take up a sport after age 30 then keep going at top level long after most have retired.

Luckily everyone knows that transwomen have no advantage over women, so it’s all down to Van Gogh’s natural talent, hard work, and determination.

Gncq · 21/10/2021 17:22

Hmm.... Curious timing to retire seeing as it's been well published recently that the IOC guidelines on testosterone are not fit for purpose.

Original poster
CatsOperatingInGangs · 21/10/2021 17:16

There’s absolutely no way they know the T levels of the other athletes.

OP posts:
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 21/10/2021 17:02

There are rules and regulations for transgender people in sports. In short, transgender women have to prove their testosterone level is below a certain limit. After a full transition, the adrenal cortex is the only organ producing testosterone and an individual’s levels are very low. This means that all of the cis-women in the current pro peloton have a higher testosterone level than Van Gogh does.

It's not all about the T-level (e.g., twitch fibres, bone density, VO2 max, size of CV system) but I'd still be interested in seeing the validation and quantification of the claim in that final sentence.

Original poster
CatsOperatingInGangs · 21/10/2021 16:40

I’ve got a lot of words after reading that article but they will all get me banned from MN.

OP posts:
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 21/10/2021 16:37

Yes, I feel for the women who put their heart and soul into a sport, really pushing their bodies to the limit, only to lose to someone whose male body can easily outdo them. Obviously.

NVG never competed as a man, but took up cycling after transition at 31. In that interview NVG says In race situations nasty remarks are down to rivalry. I haven’t words to comment on that.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/10/2021 16:09

I wonder what age women typically retire from elite cycling?

libertyfarmboots · 21/10/2021 16:00

A few years ago I read a very good article about international cycling teams and competitions and it laid out how one particular team made up of trans competitors were advantaged in terms of accumulating points etc. I've searched high and low for it because I always think it would be helpful in the sport conversation but never been able to find it again, so I think sadly it must have been on gendertrender.

ArtemesiaK · 21/10/2021 15:55

"This is all down to age. Generally, they say that I am still good enough but they also say that I am too old. I can understand this line of thinking. You don’t fit in the image of the team anymore. You are the odd one out." Hmmm.....

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