At last a challenge to Big Pat

[jdtate101]

The phrases "rats" and "sinking ship" come to mind. Pat's rapidly running out of friends, and I'm sure as more of this is uncovered people will try and distance themselves from him even more. Whilst I'd never count him out from the Presidency (his dirty tricks and underhandedness could win out), I think his chances of a 3rd term are rapidly fading away, and not before time.

 

[lukesdad]

Poor old Pat and after all he's done for the telly watching fraternity! I dunno Pmsl

 

[oldroadman]

Nominations for the job close late next week. So far PmcQ has not actually been nominated by his national federation, and the sought after Swiss nomination is looking fragile, with lawyers doubtless all over it. So unless that's sorted out by the closing date, there may not even be a McQ nomination. Which leaves a possibility that unless another last minute candidate emerges, Brian Cookson may get the job with zero opposition. Much as has been the way in the past, except that there would be no uncle Hein pulling strings behind the scenes.

 

[thom]

Nominations for the job close late next week. So far PmcQ has not actually been nominated by his national federation, and the sought after Swiss nomination is looking fragile, with lawyers doubtless all over it. So unless that's sorted out by the closing date, there may not even be a McQ nomination. Which leaves a possibility that unless another last minute candidate emerges, Brian Cookson may get the job with zero opposition. Much as has been the way in the past, except that there would be no uncle Hein pulling strings behind the scenes.

Presumably the Swiss nomination of McQuaid stands as valid unless a challenge to it succeeds - could be there are 2 nominations come close of candidacy but only one valid one come time to vote...

A single candidacy of Cookson is good in that McQuaid is gone (and I think that is the primary objective right now) but it would be healthier still for more people to feel confident to put themselves forward and produce a meaningful and constructive debate as to the UCI's future.

 

[oldroadman]

Presumably the Swiss nomination of McQuaid stands as valid unless a challenge to it succeeds - could be there are 2 nominations come close of candidacy but only one valid one come time to vote...

A single candidacy of Cookson is good in that McQuaid is gone (and I think that is the primary objective right now) but it would be healthier still for more people to feel confident to put themselves forward and produce a meaningful and constructive debate as to the UCI's future.

Always healthier when there is a contest, showing that there are people who care enough and have the courage to put themselves forward for the decision of their peers. But I think a Brian Cookson presidency may well make a big change in the UCI culture of keeping everything secret to much more openness. Interesting to see what he has to say on the 24th.

 

[thom]

Brian Cookson's UCI candidacy has a website here. From his manifesto:

Restoring trust, leading change
I am a cyclist. Cycling has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember. It has shaped my personality and I will always be grateful for the sheer enjoyment, inspiration and opportunity that cycling has given me.

The passion I and many others have for cycling cannot hide the fact that our international body, the UCI, remains hugely distracted, continuing to flounder in waves of damaging historical controversies.
For far too many people our sport is associated with doping, with decisions that are made behind closed doors and with ceaseless conflicts with the cycling family
and key stakeholders. This situation is deeply damaging for our sport, and it has severely compromised the UCI’s ability to develop and communicate much of the good work that is happening across the world.
Against this backdrop, and after careful consideration, I have decided to stand for the Presidency of the UCI. This is because I passionately believe that the UCI needs to embrace a new way of doing things, and address, head on, some of the critical challenges facing our sport.
This manifesto outlines my plans to:

• Rebuild trust in the UCI
• Transform the way anti-doping is dealt with
• Grow cycling across the globe
• Develop women’s cycling
• Overhaul elite road cycling
• Strengthen cycling’s credibility and influence within the Olympic Movement

Cycling is not the only sport with problems, but if we don’t have a sport that parents can send their children to with absolute confidence, then we are failing. The most important challenge for the new President is to restore cycling’s credibility. This must happen immediately and my first priority
will be to establish a completely independent anti-doping unit. This will be managed and governed outside of the UCI, while still maintaining our responsibilities to WADA. That way people will be able to have absolute confidence in our sport. It is also critical that we re-build relations with WADA and national bodies including the AFLD and USADA. It is absurd that a sport that has suffered so much from doping has been in open conflict with the very people it should be working in partnership with. I will seek their full co-operation in an independent investigation into allegations that the UCI colluded to cover up past doping offences. More broadly, I want to see a UCI whose culture and way of doing things is defined by openness, transparency, and a commitment to more collegiate decision-making. We need to work for the good of cycling globally, and not protect vested interests. The recent Stakeholder Consultation showed that there are many good aspects to the UCI, and many wonderful people working hard in all branches of our sport, throughout the disciplines and all around the world. They are there in the staff and volunteer officials, in our Continental Confederations, in our National Federations, in the event organisers, in the teams, in our commercial partners, and in the fans, participants and enthusiasts of cycling. That much was clear from the report. But the big message that comes out in that same report, time and time again, is this Critical Priority Recommendation: “The UCI must take the steps necessary to restore cycling’s and its own credibility, in particular in relation to the public perception of cycling’s anti-doping measures and current leadership.” In other words, cycling needs a change of leadership. I believe that I have a strong and proven track record in delivering positive transformational change in cycling, and in a way that is collegiate - not confrontational - as my time as President of British Cycling shows. It is this style of approach that I want to bring to the UCI. I will be a President who listens and responds with firm action, not a President of dictats, conflict and aggressive communication. I would be truly honoured to be elected UCI President, but I also understand the magnitude of the challenges we face. I have seen those challenges close-up in my role as a UCI management committee member since 2009. I have done my best, with colleagues, to influence change from within. But now is the time to step forward. If elected, I will do all in my powers to turn my vision of a more open, modern, efficient and outward facing UCI into reality, in full partnership with all stakeholders in the sport we love. As one seasoned observer wrote recently: “Sometimes, you just have to press the re-set button.”
That time is now.

 

[jdtate101]

It reads well on paper, especially the doping and women's cycling bits. Let's hope he gets the chance to enact it.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

There's a really odd piece on Cyclingnews today. It's trying to read all kinds of things into Cookson's careful answers to leading questions by journalists. Because he doesn't say any controversial or stupid, the journalist is claiming he is hiding things or not communicating. Seems to me that he is exhibiting exactly the kind of diplomacy needed by a UCI President unlike Pat McQuaid's shoot first and retract later attitude. Perhaps the French writer simply suspects Cookson because he's British...

 

[Foghat]

Perfect display of McQuaid's utter imbecility in this interview on Irish radio.

Bit of a disaster for him (flounders badly through much of it), so it looks like his 'campaign' is over before it's even started, thankfully, and that's without the Mike Plant dossier revelations still to come.

 

[oldroadman]

Well impressed with the manifesto, has any other candidate before produced anything like this? Reading about the campaign, it seems like Brian Cookson will have support in Europe and Australasia, might have some African support, McQ may get Asia and Africa, and Americas remains in the balance. If McQ gets back in then it will cause all sorts of problems, and probably be the biggest backward step for the cerdibility of the sport in many years. Let's hope for a Cookson broom that sweeps clean and restores some credibility.

 

[BJH]

I am just glad to see that Big Pat is standing by his comments to keep this a clean fight !!!!!!

Let's just hope he pushes far enough that someone opts to release the dossier on him.

It just gets worse and worse.

 

[beastie]

There's a really odd piece on Cyclingnews today. It's trying to read all kinds of things into Cookson's careful answers to leading questions by journalists. Because he doesn't say any controversial or stupid, the journalist is claiming he is hiding things or not communicating. Seems to me that he is exhibiting exactly the kind of diplomacy needed by a UCI President unlike Pat McQuaid's shoot first and retract later attitude. Perhaps the French writer simply suspects Cookson because he's British...

There's a really odd piece on Cyclingnews today. It's trying to read all kinds of things into Cookson's careful answers to leading questions by journalists. Because he doesn't say any controversial or stupid, the journalist is claiming he is hiding things or not communicating. Seems to me that he is exhibiting exactly the kind of diplomacy needed by a UCI President unlike Pat McQuaid's shoot first and retract later attitude. Perhaps the French writer simply suspects Cookson because he's British...

I thought it very odd that Cycling News should run such a negative story over so little when PM has given so much fuel for so many fires. Perhaps the author is Anglo phobic, but I am surprised that CN ran it.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

McQuaid is responding to Brian Cookson's manifesto the only way he seems to know how, with negative comment, slurs and innuendo: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcquaid-attacks-half-baked-cookson-manifesto

I mean, we all know what he is afraid of, but who exactly is he trying to play to here? Is there an implicit threat in all of this, that if he goes down, so does half the current committee?

 

[oldroadman]

McQuaid is responding to Brian Cookson's manifesto the only way he seems to know how, with negative comment, slurs and innuendo: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mcquaid-attacks-half-baked-cookson-manifesto

I mean, we all know what he is afraid of, but who exactly is he trying to play to here? Is there an implicit threat in all of this, that if he goes down, so does half the current committee?

If reason to dismiss people is found (and it would have to be serious) then why not? The UCI needs desparately to be seen to be acting honestly and openly. That's the only way to rebuild any kind of reputation.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

If reason to dismiss people is found (and it would have to be serious) then why not? The UCI needs desparately to be seen to be acting honestly and openly. That's the only way to rebuild any kind of reputation.

I agree. I just wonder if Pat's statements are trying to keep the old guard in line behind him by reminding them that he knows where the bodies are buried (metaphorically of course...)