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Brian Cookson responds to "bullying and haranguing" Pat McQuaid

British Cycling president takes UCI chief to task for "sometimes absurd and entirely counter-productive feuds"...

UCI presidential candidate Brian Cookson has hit back at what he describes as a “bullying and haranguing” statement issued in response to his manifesto yesterday by the governing body’s current president, Pat McQuaid, who described the document as "half-baked." Cookson says McQuaid's response is typical of his "sometimes absurd and entirely counter-productive feuds."

McQuaid, seeking re-election for a third term but yet to outline his own manifesto, had attacked perceived inconsistencies in British Cycling president Cookson’s manifesto, in which he had outlined six key areas that he would focus on if elected in Florence in September.

It’s not the first time McQuaid has gone on the offensive against Cookson since the latter declared his intention to stand last month – previously, he has accused him of effectively being a puppet of Russian billionaire and fellow UCI management committee member, Igor Makarov.

Yesterday’s missive from McQuaid, who must overcome a legal challenge to his nomination by Swiss Cycling if he is to be able to run for a third term, focused principally on issues such as Cookson’s proposed reform of the UCI’s role in anti-doping and how he planned to finance that and other planned initiatives contained in his manifesto, launched in Paris on Monday.

While declining to engage in a point by point rebuttal of the questions raised by the UCI president, Cookson said: “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.

“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.

“I will not respond in kind but I will say that the UCI desperately needs transparency and that includes the costs of the President’s office and the damaging litigation that has become commonplace during Mr McQuaid’s Presidency.

"On Monday I set out a new agenda for the UCI and cycling which has already received very strong support from around the world. I have been truly encouraged by the messages I have received following the launch and the serious and considered way which members of the cycling family and the media have responded to the direction I want to set.

"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. 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.

“I continue to hope the Presidential contest can be one in which cycling can take pride,” he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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fourstringsisplenty | 10 years ago
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The difficulty Pat Mcquaid has is that, rightly or wrongly - and it's almost surely rightly - he's strongly associated with an era of cycling most people now react against. Whatever he says, whatever his manifesto or management style, re-electing him is a symbolic vote for no change.

Which is what will make it so utterly depressing if he gets back in...

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timothy | 10 years ago
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McQuaid will remain there are to many vested interests with a say on who is in charge next. Hope to be wrong but who realistically is going shove him out? Can't hear the chorus of voices in support Cookson from those that can do something.

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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Sounds like an idea, no reason the UCI have to be the ones to set it up. Oh Daaave?!

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Petethepump | 10 years ago
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Let cyclists decide. It would be easy enough to set up a voting system. Personally I think P Mc Q has soooooooo much crap hanging over him that he will never be taken seriously again and he should go. Who's going to take him on ? mind you he's probably given himself a fat pension. Time for new blood.

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oakgreeng60 | 10 years ago
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McQuaid's statement is shocking and slightly bigoted into the bargain.He really needs to,go asap.Brian seems like a good man for the job.

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kitkat | 10 years ago
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Well done Mr Cookson, a reasoned response to an aggressive and unpleasant statement from Mr McQuaid. I desperately hope that Mr Cookson is elected and if he only delivers on one item in his agenda, it is to make the UCI transparent and no longer the clique that it is at the moment.

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WolfieSmith | 10 years ago
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Ironic that Deloitte are making moral judgements though. They are hardly on firm moral ground themselves.

Happy to see Pat go. If even the Swiss have had enough then he's finished.

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Colin Peyresourde | 10 years ago
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Go on Cookson. You've got my vote!

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antonio | 10 years ago
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McQuaid's manifesto is a simple statement, 'More of the same'.

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pwake | 10 years ago
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“I continue to hope the Presidential contest can be one in which cycling can take pride,” he added.
Not a likely scenario if Pat's involved. And why does the bunker scene from Downfall come ever more readily to mind whenever I see Pat's picture/name on this site?  7

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