UCI president Pat McQuaid has hit back at Brian Cookson over claims that his nomination to retain leadership of cycling’s governing body came too late.
The Irishman is seeking a third four-year term as president and will go head-to-head with British Cycling president Cookson at a vote next month, with their power struggle having become more and more hostile.
Cookson described McQuaid’s nomination by the Thai and Moroccan federations, which followed the withdrawal of the Irish nomination and a legal challenge to a Swiss nomination, as a ‘farce’.
“I do not fear an open election and I am not at all concerned by my ability to secure the support and votes that I require to be re-elected as UCI president,” McQuaid said in a statement. “While it would appear that Brian has lost confidence in his own ability, I continue to challenge him to allow the UCI congress and its voting delegate to decide.”Cookson further argued McQuaid’s most recent nomination came in after the deadline but he says no rules have been broken and called the claims ‘outrageous’
“Brian must immediately make a statement on whether he believes that to be true and if he believes otherwise he has duty to ensure that this allegation is publicly withdrawn,” McQuaid added.
