Tenured philosopher Rachel McKinnon of the College of Charleston also "set a new world best time in qualifying," Cycling Weekly reports.

McKinnon has not been shy in responding to criticism from biologically female athletes who claim the transgender professor has an unfair advantage by virtue of a male body.

When tennis great Martina Navratilova called for the exclusion of biological men from women's sports, McKinnon responded that it would be the same as excluding black women.

Before the race, former Masters women's champion Victoria Hood told Sky News that "the science is there and it says that it is unfair" for biological men to compete in women's sports:

The male body, which has been through male puberty, still retains its advantage, that doesn't go away.

I have sympathy with [transgender athletes]. They have a right to do sport but not a right to go into any category they want.