British candidate “is best qualified to lead the UCI at this critical moment in time”

USA Cycling (USAC) has officially endorsed Brian Cookson in the upcoming election for International Cycling Union (UCI) president, it has announced. The current president of British Cycling is the only candidate to be standing against incumbent Pat McQuaid, who is seeking a third four-year term in the role, although the validity of McQuaid’s nomination may still be challenged legally.



“The upcoming UCI presidential election should serve as a turning point for our sport – an historic moment in time when the UCI begins to chart a dynamic, new course and fully regains its international stature and credibility,” reads the USAC statement.



The news hardly comes as a surprise, since USAC CEO Steve Johnson was among the group of federation presidents that called for McQuaid and the UCI to refer the validity of the Irishman’s nomination to the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) earlier this month, while Mike Plant, the American member of the UCI Management Committee, was one of those behind the dossier that alleges corruption during McQuaid’s eight-year tenure.



“It is clear from the cycling stakeholders’ survey that transparency, integrity, credibility, accountability and good governance must be addressed if we are to have a brighter future and grow cycling globally,” the USAC statement continues.



It is Cookson, not McQuaid, that represents the best chance of this, USAC believes.



“The UCI president must lead, inspire and unify,” the statement concludes. “As one of the five founding countries of the UCI, USA Cycling believes Brian Cookson is best qualified to lead the UCI at this critical moment in time and provide a measured, fair approach to managing the sport and rebuilding trust in the UCI. We are therefore proud to join the many other National Federations from around the world who have committed their support for Brian as the next president of the UCI.”