make. but that's how dark it is. >> reporter: gillian decided to tell her family and she began transitioning. joanne worked with officials at usa cycling and after months of talks and hormonal testing they granted her a race to race as a female. >> i was finally on that woman's team that i always longed for. >> reporter: now she's about to compete in her first professional cycling race as a woman. the colorado classic. >> this race is important. because i'll be the first transwoman athlete in the united states to race in the pro field. >> reporter: the colorado classic is a two day cycling event that draws the top professional cyclists in the world. >> when you have 83 other riders hitting speeds of 42 miles an hour it's a crazy thing. >> reporter: gillian finished in time to qualify for the second race. a grueling 32 mile course in breckinridge, colorado.