UCI Masters Track World Championship cycling bronze medalist Jen Wagner-Assali was caught out complaining about her third place accolade in Sunday's competition after replying to a woman on Twitter.

Wagner, 38, commented about her placing after trans woman Rachel McKinnon, 36, an assistant professor of philosophy at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, scooped the prize.

'I was the 3rd place rider. It's definitely NOT fair,' she wrote suggesting that McKinnon was not deserving after winning the 35-44 age bracket.

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Trans woman Rachel McKinnon (center) won the age 35-44 race in Los Angeles Sunday. Silver medalist Carolien van Herrikhuyzen is pictured left and bronze medalist Jen Wagner-Assali is pictured right

The athlete had earlier celebrated her win with a tweet about the sprint

Rhys "Rachel" McKinnon celebrates his victory over women 🏆 Congratulation! 🎉

We men are clearly superior to women, we even beat them at women's cycling 🤣 pic.twitter.com/IIfHCSUaNH — Gender🚁Professecs (@gprofessx) October 14, 2018

Carolien van Herrikhuyzen said it was an 'honest' race and that Wagner should not have taken part if she had a problem

'I was the third place rider. It's definitely not fair,' Wagner wrote.

After a backlash, the Houston, Texas woman who posed with a huge grin as she stood lower down on the podium in Los Angeles, said sorry for her public comment that garnered lots of attention.

'After having some time to reflect, I realize my twitter comments earlier this week unintentionally fanned the flames on a controversial situation, and that I regret,' she wrote. 'I made the comments out of a feeling of frustration, but they weren't productive or positive.'

The winning Canadian athlete was supported by the woman who came second and took home the silver medal.

Carolien van Herrikhuyzen said it was an 'honest' race and that Wagner should not have taken part if she had a problem.

Houston, Texas woman lashed out and said she wanted to change the rules of US Cycling

Wagner apologized after initially saying it was 'not fair' McKinnon had won

But Wagner later reassured her followers she was not putting the argument to rest

'No one is a transgender to steal anyone's medal,' van Herrikhuyzen wrote. 'We had an honest race under UCI rules. If you compete you accept the rules, otherwise, don't compete. I can only imagine what she had to go through in her life to be where she is now, how hard it is to fit in.'

Wagner had initially snapped back, writing: 'Just because it's a CURRENT UCI rule doesn't mean it['s] fair or right. And rules can be changed.'

But she later added in her tweets that she should be a better sport.

'They were just inflammatory, and that's not who I want to be or am. While I may not agree with the rules, when I pin on a number I agree to race by them. I also respect @rachelvmckinnon 's right to compete within the rules.'

However Wagner-Assali's comments seemed to take an insensitive turn as she reinforced her opinion that McKinnon is not female.

She seemed to suggest having the winner take part in the race was akin to having a man compete and contradicted her harsh stance by then seemingly stating she needed to learn from her earlier reaction which did not go down well with those who support the trans community.

'I'm sure there are men who don't agree with the USA cycling rule that women can enter their races, which I do all the time,' she wrote on the micro-blogging site. 'I appreciate those that have reached out to support me, but please stop directing hateful or derogatory comments toward Rachel or trans people in general.

'At the end of the day, we are all just people trying to find our way in this world. I'm going to continue educating myself and hope this conversation continues in an open and positive way.'

McKinnon hit back by saying Wagner was only sorry she was caught out in public

McKinnon was a junior provincial badminton champion, regional junior golf champion, won sport climbing competitions and was a professional poker player for six years

McKinnon compared her struggle as a trans woman in sports to white people thinking it was unfair for black people to participate in the same events

McKinnon chimed in after her sore competitor added another insult by appearing to tell her followers she was still planning to fight the inclusion of trans women in her races.

Clarifying what she meant by being 'positive' she shared she was still taking action against.

'For those of you who think I have 'folded' I have not. There's a group of us working on getting the rules changed but we are going to fight it offline, not in the name-calling angry world of social media. I'm choosing to move on in a positive way,' she wrote.

Dr McKinnon retweeted her commented and told her thousands of followers: 'This is why the apology is not accepted: she still thinks what she said. She merely apologizes for being caught saying it publicly. She wants to ban trans women from competing. They will fail: the IOC openly allowed us in 2003 and revised their policies in 2015. #MoveOn.'

Adding that the women fighting her inclusion in the sport should face punishment for breaking the rules of USA Cycling, she shared that they had carried out the exact behaviour the rulebook states is not allowed.

'I've been humiliated, they make me feel unwelcome at races, and saying that it's unfair (when I follow all the rules) is degrading and disparaging,' McKinnon tweeted.

Cycling isn't the only sport McKinnon loves; she was a junior provincial badminton champion, regional junior golf champion and club champion, won sport climbing competitions and was a professional poker player for six years.

She started competing at a professional level when she was 10 years old.

Writing 'Trans women are women. We must compete as women. We have rights, too,' McKinnon later compared her struggle to civil rights racial struggles.

'White people thought it was UNFAIR for black people to compete in sport. The very same tactics are being used against trans women athletes,' she posted.

The Union Cycliste International responded Friday in a statement that shared how the rules consider hormone therapy over gender reassignment and that the guidelines will be clarified later on.

'Although there are no queries concerning Women-Men (W-M) transgender athletes, whose situation – at UCI level as for all International Federations (IF) – is controlled by therapeutic use exemptions (TUE), the current situation concerns M-W transgenders,' they wrote.

'After some 18 months of substantial work, and after consultation with the IFs, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should shortly announce guidelines covering the participation of M-W transgender athletes. This document should enable us to take into consideration, in line with the evolution of our society, the desire of these people to compete while at the same time guarantee as far as possible an equal chance for all participants in women’s competitions.

'The UCI will adapt its regulations according to the guidelines of the IOC.'