Brian Cookson, head of British Cycling, has announced his intention to stand as President of the sport’s world governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Despite having recently supported the reelection of current UCI boss Pat McQuaid, Cookson has made it clear that he now feels the time is right to address the toxic history of the sport and bring a fresh and transparent approach to management in the wake of scandals such as the Lance Armstrong affair. Announcing his intention to stand for nomination Cookson said, ‘Cycling has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember. 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. I still ride my bike almost daily.’
In respect to the often poor perception of the sport internationally Cookson added, ‘…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, 61, became president of British Cycling in 1996 and is credited with taking the governing body from the brink of bankruptcy to being the home of one of the most successful cycling bodies in the world; under his leadership GB have won 19 Olympic Gold Medals and 28 Paralympic Golds. Elections for the presidency will take place at the UCI Annual Congress in Florence in September.
To read Cookson’s full statement see britishcycling.org.uk – his full manifesto is due to be published soon at briancookson.org
