The UCI has contacted a range of organisations and groups in the sport in order to begin the previously-announced stakeholder consultation process which it states will help determine the path forward for cycling.
The governing body announced today that it had sent letters to riders, teams, race organisers, national federations, administrators, sponsors, industry representatives, anti-doping organisations and sports bodies. It is inviting comments on topics relating to globalisation, anti-doping, riders and the sports calendar.
These stakeholders have just under a week to respond to the UCI; after that, it will announce the format of the stakeholder consultation.
It is due to be held in the first three months or so of 2013. The UCI has said that it will help shape the policies moving forward.
The process is separate to the independent commission which will look into the Lance Armstrong doping affair and the issues raised in the USADA report into that.
The UCI has previously been accused by some of not listening adequately to others involved in the sport. The ProTour conflicts and the race radio debate are two examples of this, as are the tussles it had with USADA prior to the publication of that agency’s report.
However with the governing body under pressure after the USADA enquiry, it has responded and now states it wants to have greater input from others moving on from this point.
“We will work together to tackle issues of concern and build a bright future for cycling,” said UCI president Pat McQuaid. “We will look at how we can continue the process of globalising cycling, encourage wider participation and make the sport even more interesting for spectators.”
Meanwhile the Change Cycling Now movement is pushing ahead with its own campaign for reform, and has called on McQuaid and former president Hein Verbruggen to leave the governing body.