By: Tristan Hill
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — Just a few weeks after Experience Fayetteville expressed their concern over the potential for athletes to boycott sporting events due to recent legislation limiting access to healthcare and sports for members of the transgender community, the U.S. Cup Olympic mountain bike qualifier is feeling those very effects.
The U.S. Cup is a series of cross-country mountain bike races hosted in part by OZ Trails, The Walton Foundation, and Experience Fayetteville. At the events, amateur and professional mountain bikers compete not just for the U.S. Cup title, but in some cases, to qualify for the Olympic Games — and this year’s Cup is no exception.
However, the plan had to be meticulously considered when the threat of boycotts loomed.
Santa Cruz bicycles intended to announce a new team and introduce racers through a media day in Fayetteville prior to the U.S. Cup. After extensive deliberation, the Santa Cruz team made the decision to participate in the race, but not bring any additional media attention to Arkansas in hopes of standing in solidarity with the trans community.
Racer Evelyn Dong announced on Instagram that she would be withdrawing from the race in order to use her voice to support those who she feels is being ostracized by the new legislation.
“I do not want to race in a place where not all are welcome,” Dong said.
That perception of exclusivity is one that U.S. Cup Director of Events Ty Kady says his team has been trying to overcome.
“Our one message is come join us, if you feel comfortable,” Kady said, “We see the U.S. Cup as a community and a platform for [the trans community] right now.”
Kady sought to emphasize, in no uncertain terms, that the bills being passed at the capitol aren’t a representation of the U.S. Cup or the Northwest Arkansas mountain biking community’s beliefs.
He also said that the developments in Little Rock came so quickly that his team wasn’t able to take measures such as withdraw from Arkansas in favor of a new venue, particularly when available options for mountain biking are far more limited than other sports.
“Centennial [Park] was purpose built by the city … to host these larger events,” Kady said. “The reason we are out here, is the development put in by OZ trails and by the Waltons is changing the dynamic of cycling in the United States.”
He compared the situation to the MLB’s decision to withdraw its All-Star game from Georgia over the state’s voter ID restrictions. The MLB has far greater access to top-of-the-line facilities due to the vastly higher amount of corporate support for baseball, Kady said.
Although the decision to stay in Arkansas was a necessity, Kady said he doesn’t want anyone to think it’s an expression of support for any sort of anti-trans sentiment.
“We’re not putting profit over human rights,” Kady said. “We’re trying to get some trans athletes to compete with us this weekend. We’ll give them free entry.”
Kady said that in doing so, he hopes the mountain bike community will be able to better reach out to the trans community to offer their support.
He also made note that he supports anyone, competitor or spectator, who wishes to boycott in order to uphold their principles.
“Hey, if you feel like boycotting the U.S. Cup and other events is how we’re going to make some change, I encourage people to do that, actually,” Kady said.