Responding to the attacking press release issued yesterday by current UCI president Pat McQuaid, election rival Brian Cookson has said that the tone of that statement backs up what he feels is the biggest reason for change at the top of the sport.
The British Cycling president has said on several occasions that he doesn’t want the presidential contest to descend into personal attacks. While he does fault McQuaid, his statement today is more restrained than yesterday’s document.
“The response from Pat McQuaid to my manifesto has once again demonstrated exactly why restoring credibility to the UCI and cycling in general was the number one recommendation of the recent Deloitte consultation with the sport’s stakeholders,” states Cookson.
“His bullying and haranguing style seems designed to antagonise everyone who does not share his approach to the governance of world cycling. Yesterday’s release was a reminder of the sometimes absurd and entirely counter-productive feuds in which he has engaged.
"Members of the cycling family and other interested observers can read my manifesto, compare it with the current state and image of the UCI, and make their own minds up as to who they believe best represents the future of the UCI and cycling.”
Cookson added that greater transparency needs to become evident within the UCI, including a disclosure of the costs of the president’s salary. Although Cookson has been on the UCI management committee since 2009, he said that he and others have never been able to ascertain what salary McQuaid earns from the position.
He also says that the costs need to be pinpointed for what he termed the ‘damaging litigation that has become commonplace during Mr McQuaid’s Presidency.’
Commenting on the feedback he has received thus far, Cookson described himself as truly encouraged by the messages that he has received since declaring that he will run for the position of UCI president.
If successful, he has pledged to make the salary publically known as part of his pledge that the UCI will be more transparent.
He said that important decisions will have to be made about the future direction of the UCI. “As we enter the next stage of the Presidential election, it is clear that the choice that has to be made is between two different approaches to the work of the UCI and two different visions for our sport,” he wrote.
“I believe in a path based on credibility, trust and change and not one littered with a seemingly endless round of doubts and discrepancies where relations with important stakeholders are conducted by press release and punctuated by legal letters.”
Thus far, there are only two candidates for the position. The deadline for nominations is this week.