By Duncan Mackay in Buenos Aires

Pat McQuaid will have to give up his position on the IOC if he loses the UCI election to British rival Brian CooksonSeptember 4 - Pat McQuaid today warned that cycling risked losing its influence within the Olympic Movement if Brian Cookson is elected as President of the International Cycling Union (UCI).


He sounded the cautionary note after Sebastian Coe, chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and former head of London 2012, wrote to the heads of all the Confederations of the UCI backing Cookson.

The BOA said in a statement: "Brian Cookson has contributed enormously to the sport of cycling in the UK over the past 15 years, both in helping to deliver international success and growing the sport at the grassroots and community levels.

"We believe that Brian would make an excellent UCI President, provide real leadership in the international arena and help rebuild trust and credibility in the sport of cycling internationally.

"BOA chairman Seb Coe has recently written to each of the UCI Confederation Presidents to express the BOA's full support for Brian's bid to lead the UCI, and we will continue to support him all the way through to the election, where we hope he will be successful."

BOA chairman Sebastian Coe has written to the heads of the UCI Confederations supporting Brian Cookson's campaign to replace Pat McQuaid as PresidentBOA chairman Sebastian Coe has written to the heads of the UCI Confederations supporting Brian Cookson's campaign to replace Pat McQuaid as President






If Cookson, President of British Cycling, is elected to replace McQuaid at the UCI Congress in Florence on September 27 then the Irishman will forfeit his position on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a position he has held since 2010.

It is not automatic that Cookson would replace McQuaid on the IOC. 

Under the rules of the Olympic Charter, only 15 members representing the International Federations are allowed to serve at any one time and McQuaid could be replaced by someone from somewhere other than the UCI. 

"Cycling will lose its IOC member if I am not re-elected," the 63-year-old McQuaid, who is currently travelling here to attend the IOC Session, told insidethegames.

"The statement [from Coe] doesn't change the fact that Brian has no influence within the IOC and no one within the cycling family is going to be fooled into thinking otherwise.

"It is no surprise that he has support from another GB entity which is where most of his support comes from and where his agenda is focused."

As well as Coe, Cookson also received support today from Sir Chris Hoy, Britain's most successful Olympian with a record six gold medals.

"Brian Cookson has put his hat in the ring and I think he would be a fantastic President for the UCI," said Sir Chris.

"Brian is a cyclist himself, he's very passionate about listening to the riders, listening to their views and improving all areas that can be improved.

"I think we've come to the end of an era that we're glad to see the back of in the sport, but it's not entirely over and a lot of work needs to be done to make cycling the way we want it to be, and I think Brian is the right person to make those changes."

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