Philippe Verbiest and Dominique Raymond were to be part of vote verification team
Brian Cookson has managed to block International Cycling Union (UCI) lawyer Philippe Verbiest and Dominique Raymond, the manager of national federations, from being part of the team that verifies the vote count in tomorrow’s Presidential election, according to the Daily Telegraph. Both men are colleagues and allies of incumbent Pat McQuaid, and Cookson arguers that their presence on the team would be a conflict of interest.
The incident is the latest in what has been a controversial and bad-tempered presidential contest. Votes will now be counted by two national federation presidents, before being scrutinised independently.
Despite McQuaid enjoying support in certain regions, particularly the Asian and African Continents, Cookson gives the appearance of someone confident of victory. The Telegraph reports that the Englishman appears confident of victory, apparently estimating his likely share of the 42-vote UCI congress as something in the “high twenties”. He has the assurance of the 14 votes of the European Cycling Union (UEC) delegates, as well as others, including from Oceania and North America.
Having been visiting the apparently pro-McQuaid continents, Cookson appears confident of having secured the support of a number of further delegates.
Should Cookson lose, however, and despite some of the vitriol displayed during the election fight, the Englishman vows to continue in cycling. Prior to the UEC vote, he had talk of walking away from the upper management of the sport - and would have been followed by by influential Russian Federation president Igor Makarov - but has since decided to seek re-election to the UCI Management Committee.
“I will still carry on doing my best to work for the sport that I put so much time and effort into over many, many years,” he told the Telegraph.
The Englishman may not have to worry about his, however, as Bradley Wiggins told the Telegraph. “From what I understand, it’s a done deal. Cookson’s already in,” said the former Tour de France champion.