The election of the UCI President, which is due in a few days, is casting its shadow and is being discussed quite controversially. The focus is particularly on the incumbent President Pat McQuaid and his rather idiosyncratic nomination. Because after his home association Ireland and the Swiss association forbade him to support the election, the Irishman who lives in Switzerland had himself put up by the associations of Thailand and Morocco.
Many associations complained about this situation, considering this procedure to be inconsistent with the rules. USA Cycling even called for the CAS to review the procedure. However, the UCI committee rejects this.
McQuaid's only opponent in the election will be Brit Brian Cookson, who promised more transparency from the UCI if he were elected. McQuaid, who has been in office since 2005, and his predecessor Hein Verbruggen are said to have partially covered up the manipulations of Lance Armstrong, who has since been banned for life for doping.