Women's cycling - major sponsor pulls out as policies are not 'trans inclusive'

Now being featured in the DM online - sorry cannot link. The comments are certainly not going Peter Stanton's way with the majority saying that they will boycott his company. Others saying that they would like to contribute to a fundraiser to make up for the £15k he has withdrawn.

As reported in the press this week, over 90% of female cyclists don't want to race against TW. Surely any sensible sponsors are only going to want to associated with events that the athletes actually want to race in, not under duress like the US swimmers?

I don't think this has gone anywhere near the way Pete Stanton expected it to!

Amazing. Imagine having all those women cyclists in 'Fair Play for Women' tops. That would be so cool!

From the article referenced on twitter...

twitter.com/BritishConti/status/1514227714957484032

How good is that! It's back to the 70s and 80s when women had to build refuges and rape crisis centres as women's needs were completely ignored.A bit devastating to see so much misogyny rearing its ugly head again but this time women are in a far better position as so many of us have our own income.

Just been in a meeting for four hours and slyly checking phone for updates. Really hope they accept sponsorship.
flexes flexible friend.

Bravo those women's groups! Wonderful stuff.

The idea that female only cycling is worth it if male people are involved.... yeah gtf with that.

How’s this for a phenomenal response?

fairplayforwomen.com/formal-bid-to-sponsor-womens-cycle-race/

thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2022/04/12/2022-womens-cicle-classic-and-mens-junior-cicle-classic-in-peril/

There’s an update with today’s date saying:

The Women’s CiCLE Classic organisers have announced the race will run this year, thanks to what it describes as a “phenomenal response” following their plea for sponsorship.

Because he wishes to fund women's cycling not for women, or because of any interest in women's sport, but because those women and their races make for a lovely setting for TW.

It says they was a "longstanding sponsor" and there haven't been any TW racing in the past few years. So this seems weird to me at first glance.

But on the other hand, they is a they/them so clearly committed to the "cause" and the more intelligent TRAs are certainly capable of playing a long game. Presumably the sponsorship got them some input into the "consultation" they was complaining about. Ugh. You might be right, but that's quite remarkably sinister and Machiavellian. I wonder how many other wealthy transactivists might be doing the same thing in other women's sports.

Apparently the race will go ahead due to a 'phenomenal response' to a plea for sponsorship.

I wonder if any of the potential sponsors saw that thread about the watch company on here. (I am one of the people considering buying a new watch.)

£15K is not really major sponsorship I. The grand scheme of things. He is a nobody who has proven himself to be unreliable by pulling out of a promise at the last minute. I reckon there are at least 15,000 women who would donate ten quid to protect women’s cycling for biological women. The question is will British Cycling tap into that much larger pot of cash by standing up for women’s right?

Apparently the race will go ahead due to a 'phenomenal response' to a plea for sponsorship.

Put your spades away, vipers! (But remember where you put them because there's bound to be a next time.)

It's true that it's not for me going to be an ongoing commitment. It would be more a piece of support for this race given that Mr Stanton, who does of course have the right to spend his own money how he likes, has pulled out such a short time ahead of the event. British Cycling need to make a longer term sponsorship deal.

Never seen any cycle race and have zero interest but I will do some gardening to support these sportswomen. Male money should not buy women. Go Vipers!

I'll donate too. Stanton can stuff they's £15k where the sun don't shine. Wouldn't it be great to have it sponsored by Mumsnet vipers!

I'm going to go against the grain and say I'm not keen to contribute. There are so many sports, we can't support them all. It removes the responsibility from others whose job it is, to sort this out.

I'll carry on supporting the legal cases but I can't stretch to this as well. It could mean some sports end up with women squeezed out. IIRC kickboxing was one that was happy to have male people fighting women at one point?

We have to draw the line. Politicians must step up and save women's sports.

I will also contribute to sponsoring if a method can be established.

Fuck that.

Ready to crowd fund any time for this. I'd suspect it could be raised in a few hours. And the govt are going to cringe majorly if it becomes that women are now forced to fund their own sports because unless its by males, for males, and all about males, no other bugger is going to. Extreme end misogyny UK.

Thanks Embarrassing.

Happy to donate too 👍 great women’s road race on Eurosport earlier 🚲 looking forward to Saturday’s cobbles!

Road cycling relies heavily on sponsors since it can’t sell spectator tickets but we don’t need money from sex denying misogynists