British Cycling Boss to Restore Credibility to UCI if he Replaces McQuaid as President

The president of British Cycling Brian Cookson has announced he will stand against Pat McQuaid for the presidency of the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Cookson, 61, had previously said he was ‘100 per cent supportive’ of McQuaid but has now been nominated by his national federation.

“Cycling has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember,” said Cookson.

“It has shaped my personality as much as it has my professional career, and I will always be grateful for the sheer enjoyment, inspiration and opportunity that cycling has given me.

“But the passion I and many others have for cycling cannot hide the fact that our international body, the UCI, remains hugely distracted, continuing to flounder in waves of damaging historical controversies.

“For far too many people our sport is associated with doping, with decisions that are made behind closed doors and with ceaseless conflicts with important members of the cycling family and other key stakeholders.

“This situation is deeply damaging for our sport, and it has severely compromised the UCI’s ability to develop and communicate some of the good work that is happening across the world.”

Cookson said that these points were the reason he wanted to run for presidency, saying that restoring ‘credibility’ and improving the way anti-doping was managed in cycling were his top priorities

Surprise for McQuaid

McQuaid has been the head of UCI since 2006 and admitted he was surprised the Cookson would be running against him.

“I’m a little bit surprised with Brian, but that’s as much as I’d like to say on that,” McQuaid told Cyclingnews.

“I know him very well and I’ve known him for a long time.”

McQuaid has been under increased scrutiny following the Lance Armstrong revelations that the cyclist had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

Cookson has played a major role in securing the future of cycling in the UK, which was typified by British cyclists finishing top of the medal table at London 2012.

He has headed British Cycling unpaid since 1996, having been a part of the committee that saved it from insolvency.

The election will take place at the UCI Congress at the World Championships in September.

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