UCI battle heating up

Senior figures at the International Cycling Union have encouraged amendments to legislation which could favour incumbent president Pat McQuaid’s bid for re-election, it has emerged.

As the increasingly hostile battle for the leadership of cycling’s world governing body between McQuaid and challenger Brian Cookson intensified yesterday, with verbal barbs exchanged, communication has been uncovered which gives the current chief’s detractors further ammunition.

It has emerged that an amendment proposed by the Malaysian Cycling Federation and the Asian Cycling Confederation was re-worded by the UCI, then approved by the parties which proposed it, in order to be valid for next month’s election where McQuaid is being challenged by British Cycling president Cookson.