Coe and Hoy back Cookson's bid against McQuaid

Sebastian Coe and Sir Chris Hoy have thrown their weight behind British Cycling chairman Brian Cookson’s bid to become president of the UCI, the sport’s world governing body.

Coe, head of the British Olympic Association, has written to all UCI federation chiefs expressing his support for Cookson, who is challenging the incumbent, Ireland's Pat McQuaid, in an election that has already become a bitter contest.