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Cookson "humbled" by support for UCI presidency bid as McQuaid faces another challenge

British Cycling president speaks of support for his decision to stand against current UCI president

British Cycling president Brian Cookson says he has been “humbled” by the support he has received since announcing his intention to stand for election as UCI president – but there’s more trouble for the man currently in that position, Pat McQuaid, with three members of the Swiss Cycling reportedly bringing a lawsuit to block that federation's nomination of him.

Writing his first blog post on the website set up to support his bid, Cookson reflected on his visit to last weekend’s UCI Downhill World Cup in Fort William, before turning to the issue of his decision to stand for president of world cycling’s governing body.

“The great turnout [at Fort William] was a timely reminder of how popular, and unifying, our sport can be and I have been humbled by the level of support I have received ever since announcing my intention to stand for Presidency of the UCI,” he wrote.

“I have been contacted directly by people from all aspects of the sport, and almost without exception, the fans, riders, sponsors, volunteers and race organisers who have been in touch share my view that the way the UCI is led urgently needs changing.”

Cookson is a member of the UCI’s Management Committee, whose members also include the Russian billionaire Igor Makarov, owner of Katusha, whom McQuaid accused of manipulating the Briton in the interests of pursuing his own agenda, a claim Makarov has roundly rejected.

The Management Committee, chaired by McQuaid, was due to meet in Bergen in Norway this week, and recent developments should have made for an interesting meeting. Cookson, writing ahead of it, confined himself to saying: “It will be good to meet up with my colleagues for the first time since announcing my intention to run.”

He went on: “Much of the good work the UCI has undertaken in recent months and years has been undermined by a lack of confidence people have in the leadership. That is why I have now decided to stand and I believe this is a view shared by my colleagues.

“I am currently finalising my manifesto and will soon announce the ideals which underpin my campaign. As I stated in my announcement, I believe doping remains the biggest problem facing the sport by far, and I believe that reforming the anti-doping procedures is crucial if we are to restore cycling’s credibility.

“We need to establish an independent system, which is supported by organisations such as WADA and I will be meeting key figures from the world of cycling over the coming days, weeks and months to iron out the working details of this approach.

“Restoring the public’s confidence in cycling will not happen overnight, but I believe now is the time to make a change and make a difference,” added Cookson.

Currently, it’s a two-horse race for the presidency, and with just a week and a half left before nominations close, time is running out for any others who may be considering throwing their hat into the ring.

Meanwhile, with an Emergency General Meeting of Cycling Ireland convened for Saturday at which delegates are widely expected to vote against the backing of McQuaid, there’s a further challenge to what is in effect his insurance policy of a nomination from Swiss Cycling.

McQuaid is resident in Switzerland, where the UCI is headquartered, and insists that as a member of Swiss Cycling he is entitled to be nominated by it as he seeks a third term in office, irrespective of the situation with Cycling Ireland.

Quoted in L’Equipe, Selina Küpfer, spokesperson of the national governing body, confirmed today: “We received a complaint Tuesday. It emanates from three members of Swiss cycling, "adding that the matter will be decided by federation’s arbitral tribunal.

Last week, Jaimie Fuller, chairman of compression clothing company Skins, who is also a Swiss resident, and the country’s former national coach, Kurt Buergi, announced they were launching a legal challenge to Swiss Cycling’s nomination of McQuaid.

It has not been reported whether they are connected to the latest challenge to the decision.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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9 comments

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skippy | 10 years ago
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Good News from Cycling Ireland !

phat the rat has been kicked into touch !

Following tweet , suggests that the " dirty tricks campaign " has more life left to run :

" Mike O'Hanlon ‏@unoghoulie 1h
@djmmorgan @jaimiefuller If Pat can't get Swiss backing, he could give Vino a top job & excuse Astana dope tests. Khazakstan might back him.

My comment elsewhere :

" Whilst i feel sure this is not the end of the road for phat the rat , it gives a glimmer of HOPE , for the future of Cycling Sport !

The following tweet says much :

" Mike O'Hanlon ‏@unoghoulie 1h
@djmmorgan @jaimiefuller If Pat can't get Swiss backing, he could give Vino a top job & excuse Astana dope tests. Khazakstan might back him.

After watching Julia Gillard laying into an Aussie Poli , with a resemblence to uniballer , i would suggest that people canvas @GaudryT , a female to swing her handbag into the Presidential Race !

With her experience of running the " Amy Gillett Foundation " in Oz , she has NO hidden Agenda thus will not be carrying the baggage and favours owed , that the likes of Cookson have picked up over the years at UCI ?

Being a Woman that has a family in Oz , she will get the JOB done quickly and will see that Women's Cycling , finally get treated with more respect .

With the Anzac spirit , the UCI will get a spring clean that will have heads spinning !

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jarderich | 10 years ago
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If you take the name "Pat McQuaid", jumble the letters up, add a few and take a few away, you get the name "Sepp Blatter".

I rest my case.

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Critchio | 10 years ago
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Maybe this is the road to good riddance to bad rubbish. McQ only cares about his lifestyle. If he cared about cycling he'd of left a long time ago. His tenacity is not tenacity but downright greed and ignorance and he's got a death grip on the presidency. He's a disgrace to cycling.

Well that death grip is being loosened Mr McQ.

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Low Speed Wobble | 10 years ago
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McQ must be shitting himself at the thought of someone diametrically opposite to his standards and 'ethos' taking over the reigns at the UCI.

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pmr | 10 years ago
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Should have resigned when Armstrong confessed, not dragged out his reign like this, losing any shred of dignity in the process. Hope McQuaid is ousted once and for all and cycling can move on from burying its head in the sand and face its problems head on.

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therevokid | 10 years ago
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"in-for-me, they've all got it in-for-me" McQuaid was
over heard to say in the executive loos ......

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kitkat | 10 years ago
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If Mr McQuaid had a shred of decency he'd take the decision from Cycling Ireland on Saturday and honour it. Sadly I don't think this will be the case and instead there'll be more comments on conspiracies.

Don't fight it Pat, acknowledge its time for change and step down.

Avatar
kiat replied to kitkat | 10 years ago
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kitkat wrote:

If Mr McQuaid had a shred of decency he'd take the decision from Cycling Ireland on Saturday and honour it. Sadly I don't think this will be the case and instead there'll be more comments on conspiracies.

Don't fight it Pat, acknowledge its time for change and step down.

Spot on. True leaders do not be put themselves above the very organisation they have a duty and responsibility for.

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Ghedebrav | 10 years ago
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Not to distract away from the debate, but why does everybody have to be so bloody 'humbled' by everything?

like Alan Partridge describing the Wild Bean Cafes in BP garages, "the range of pastries was truly humbling".

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