British Cycling President Brian Cookson will challenge Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) President Pat McQuaid "when he stands for re-election," according to Gardner & Slot of the LONDON TIMES. McQuaid, who has led the governing body since '06, "has been widely criticised for his handling of the Lance Armstrong scandal." Cookson, 61, who has been president of British Cycling for 17 years, said, "I have the full support and nomination of my home federation, British Cycling, and I respectfully ask for the support of the national cycling federations of the world and the whole international cycling family. I am not doing this lightly as I know how much needs to be done" (LONDON TIMES, 6/4).
SURPRISE DECISION: In London, Ben Rumsby wrote Cookson said, "We must restore cycling's credibility. The first priority for the new UCI president must be to change the way that anti-doping is managed so that people can have confidence in the sport." McQuaid was taken aback Monday by Cookson's decision "to stand against him less than four months after the Briton pledged his full support to the president." McQuaid: "I'm a little bit surprised with Brian, but that's as much as I'd like to say on that. As long as it's a good campaign and a clean campaign, I have no problem with that" (LONDON TIMES, 6/4).
DISTINGUISHED RESUME: The BBC reported "Cookson became president of British Cycling" in '96 and under his leadership Great Britain has won 19 Olympic Gold Medals and 28 Paralympic Gold Medals. In '12 he also "oversaw the first British winner of the Tour de France when Sir Bradley Wiggins took the yellow jersey." He served as UCI Int'l Commissaire for 23 years between '86 and '09, helping to organize, coordinate and officiate int'l cycling races (BBC, 6/4).
