The past three days have been important to Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) President Pat McQuaid "as he seeks re-election for a third term," according to David Walsh of the SUNDAY TIMES. They "could hardly have gone worse." On Thursday at UCI management committee meetings in Bergen, Norway, "McQuaid was confronted with serious allegations" by fellow committee member Mike Plant of the U.S. and Saturday the Irish cycling community cut its ties with McQuaid's candidacy. At Saturday's emergency general meeting in Dublin, "rank and file delegates from across Ireland voted 91 to 74 not to support McQuaid's ambition to continue as UCI president." The election will be held in Italy this September, "when McQuaid will be opposed by the British candidate Brian Cookson." McQuaid has been nominated by the the Swiss cycling federation, "and although the legality of this being challenged, he is still expected to stand." Saturday's rejection by his national federation was an important blow to McQuaid's chances, "because cycling enthusiasts in every country will wonder how they can support a candidate who does not have the backing of the people who know him best" (SUNDAY TIMES, 6/16). The AP reported McQuaid's future as the head of world cycling's governing body -- a position he has held for eight years -- "has been clouded since the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report last year that led to Lance Armstrong being banned for life from cycling." McQuaid "is facing a challenge for re-election in September," from Cookson -- the head of British Cycling (ESPN, 6/15).
