Brian Cookson Hits Out at McQuaid’s Manifesto as UCI Presidential Race Hots Up

Brian Cookson, the President of British Cycling and candidate for International Cycling Union’s (UCI), has hit out at his component Pat McQuaid after the current UCI President unveiled his manifesto.

In his manifesto, titled ‘A Bright Future for a Changed Sport’, McQuaid emphasised his commitment to the fight against doping. 

McQuaid, who began his reign in 2005, said: “I am delighted to launch my re-election campaign and to present my vision for cycling’s future to the cycling family whose support over the past eight years has enabled me to transform our sport.

“Cycling has changed since I was first elected as UCI president in 2005. It is now a global sport. It is now possible to race and win clean. We have travelled a great distance together and we must never turn back from cycling’s bright future,” he added.

But Cookson accused Mcquaid of neglecting the fight against doping in favour of “destructive feuding and conflict”.

In a statement Cookson said: “Pat has been President of the UCI for two terms. While his Manifesto outlines what he believes still needs to be done for the UCI, I think that many people will judge him on his record, and ask why those things haven’t been done in the last eight years. Unfortunately under his Presidency far too much energy and resource have been devoted to destructive feuding and conflict rather than grabbing hold of the issues, listening to the right people and delivering solutions.

“In his Manifesto he talks about the UCI Stakeholders Consultation but I think he fails to address the number one critical recommendation – that the UCI ‘must take the steps necessary to restore cycling’s and its own credibility, in particular in relation to the public perception of cycling’s anti-doping measures and current UCI leadership’. It is my belief and that of many others that we need a complete change of leadership in order to successfully achieve this.”