ritish Cycling is to ban transgender women from the female category of its competitions following a nine-month review and consultation.

Under a new participation policy that the governing body said was “predicated on fairness”, such athletes will compete in an ‘open category’ with men.

The female category will be “for those whose sex was assigned female at birth”.

The changes will prevent rider Emily Bridges - the country’s highest profile transgender cyclist - potential being part of the British women’s team.