By Duncan Mackay

Pat McQuaid at microphoneJune 15 - Pat McQuaid's chances of being able to stand for a third term as President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) are hanging by a thread after Ireland's clubs voted not to back him and his nomination by Switzerland is facing a serious legal challenge.


McQuaid was defeated 91 to 74 at Cycling Ireland's Extraordinary General Meeting in Dublin after the country's 60 clubs had been given the opportunity to decide whether to nominate him following an earlier decision by the organisation's Board to support him had been revoked due to a breach of the rules. 

The Irish governing body rejected the opportunity to vote again and instead allowed the clubs to decide.

Nearly 200 delegates attended the meeting and a vote was taken after an hour's debate. 

The clubs largely voted against McQuaid in protest at his handling of the Lance Armstrong scandal while club membrs Cycling Ireland's Board and other commissions had two votes each. 

Earlier this month, British Cycling Federation President Brian Cookson announced that he would stand against McQuaid at the election in Florence in September. 

"We always knew...and I'm speaking for the Board, who were in favour of the motion, that the anti-McQuaids, if you'd like to call them that, were the favourites in betting terms," said Cycling Ireland President Rory Wyley.

"I knew over the past week or two the gap was closing.

"From my point of view it didn't close enough.

"I would have obviously preferred if the motion was carried and became a resolution of the company.

"Most delegates were mandated by the clubs prior to the meeting, so there wasn't a huge amount of debate.

"I asked at the start that the discussion take place in a civil and courteous manner and it did."

Lance Armstrong in helmetPat McQuaid's handling of the Lance Armstrong scandal has been criticised in a confidential report produced by American Mike Plant

Following the decision by Cycling Ireland to revoke the original nomination, McQuaid sought the support of the Swiss Cycling Federation as he is a resident in that country. 

But the decision to back him has angered some members of Swiss Cycling Federation, who are concerned that they went against the wishes of McQuaid's home federation and three have lodged a legal challenge that has forced the organisation to set-up a panel. to decide whether the nomination will remain.

McQuaid has also been under fire at the UCI Management Committee, currently taking place in Bergen, where American Mike Plant produced a dossier which allegedly was critical of his handling of the Armstrong scandal.

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