Pat McQuaid secures Cycling Ireland's nomination to run for re-election as UCI President

Pat McQuaid has secured Cycling Ireland's nomination to stand for a third term as UCI President - but it has asked that he raise with the UCI's Management Committee and that it wants debated at the UCI World Congress in September, including one that would prevent anyone else ever holding the position for more than two four-year terms.

Another change to the UCI Constitution that Cycling Ireland wants to see is to cap the time that certain senior UCI officials can serve it at 16 years - the effect of that, if in force now, would be that MCQuaid, road commission chairman for eight years before assuming his present role, would be stepping down this year, and that his predecessor as UCI President, Hein Verbruggen, would be long gone.

Verbruggen - like McQuaid, under heavy criticism in recent months as a result of concerns over the UCI's role in the Lance Armstrong scandal, among other things - spent 14 years as UCI President from 1991 to 2005, and since then has been Honoraray President.

As yet, no potential rival from with in the UCI structure or national governing bodies has openly declared that they will run against McQuaid.

However, in December at the conclusion of the Change Cycling Now summit in London, three-time Tour de France winner and twivce world champion Greg LeMond said he would be prepared to stand for election on an interim basis until a permanent successor could be found.

Ratification of McQuaid's nomination was announced shortly before midnight Dublin time on Friday, and came after calls had been made for the national governing body not to endorse his candidacy; had that happened, then the 63-year-old, who was himself President of Cycling Ireland between 1996 and 1999, would have had to rely on being nominated by the national federation of Switzerland, his country of residence and where the UCI's headquarters are located.

Here's the full statement from Cycling Ireland:

At its Board meeting on the 12th of April, the Board of Cycling Ireland agreed to the nomination request from Pat McQuaid for the President of the UCI. The Board requested that Pat McQuaid would raise with the UCI Management Committee certain concerns on governance issues which they would consider for tabling at the 2013 UCI Congress. The specific issues are:

1. An independent review of the system of internal controls and processes at the UCI, with the findings to be published and the recommendations implemented.

2. Engagement with Stakeholders to re-write the existing Governance Code and the Code of Ethics, as set out in the Constitution of the UCI.

3. The following proposals are to be put forward to UCI Management Committee for tabling at the 2013 Congress at:

a. A limitation on the period for which a president or vice president  can serve in the UCI as follows effective after the 2013 Congress:

i.  The maximum number of two four year terms.

ii.  No president, vice president or management committee member can serve the UCI for more than 16 years in total over their life time, in any capacity (paid, voluntary or other).

b.  That co-opted management committee members are permitted to vote on all matters which management committee members are entitled to vote.