The News Agents Pippa York: "I want the world to leave trans people alone" - The Sports Agents
8 snips
Dec 12, 2025 
Pippa York, a former professional cyclist and the first transgender woman to compete in the Tour de France, shares her incredible journey from Robert Millar to Pippa. She discusses the emotional challenges of her transition, the mental pressure of racing with gender dysphoria, and the coping mechanisms she developed. Pippa critiques the current debates around trans women in sports, emphasizing the need for acceptance and understanding rather than political turmoil. Her powerful wish is simple: to leave trans people alone and stop debating their existence.
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Childhood Dysphoria And Cycling Escape
- Pippa York describes feeling different from age five and using cycling as a way to bury gender questions.
- She invested fully in cycling before facing her gender issues after retiring from the sport.
The Low Point Before Transition
- York recounts hitting a low after 16 years of racing and beginning a five-year descent before transition.
- She sought professional help when she could no longer function and rebuilt from that low point.
Social Dysphoria Over Body Dysphoria
- York never found online support during her transition because it was pre-internet, so experiences were isolating.
- She emphasises that her main dysphoria was social: being seen and living as female rather than body-focused conflict.
