Cookson 'encouraged' by support in race against McQuaid

British Cycling president Brian Cookson has highlighted the “growing momentum” for change which has made him a firm favourite to replace Pat McQuaid as president of the International Cycling Union later this month.

Cookson is challenging McQuaid in an increasingly bitter contest which is still in dispute after McQuaid failed to secure a nomination from either his home country, Ireland, or Switzerland, his current place of residence.

Cookson has received strong backing from the presidents of the respective governing bodies for the sport in Australia, Canada and Russia, as well as from Sir Chris Hoy, David Millar and Lord Coe.

Cookson said: “I am honoured to have received so much support from people passionate about cycling from across the world.

“I have been encouraged every day of the campaign by the number of people - some of them national federation presidents, some of them ordinary cycling fans - who have emailed, texted, written or simply approached me in person to offer their encouragement.

“There does appear to be a real and growing appetite for change to the leadership of the UCI and I am grateful for all those who have sent me messages of support and endorsement which I intend to build on all the way to the vote on September 27.

“I have a sense of a growing momentum within the cycling family for our pledge to restore trust and lead change in the UCI.”

McQuaid’s flagging bid is still the subject of some controversy as he seeks to secure the nominations required for his presidency bid to take place.

Some federations have called for the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to make a judgement on a proposed change to the UCI’s constitution made by McQuaid, which would allow him to secure the nominations of other nations.