Pat McQuaid backed by Cycling Ireland for re-election as UCI president

Under-fire UCI President Pat McQuaid was last night backed by the Board of Cycling Ireland to go forward for re-election for the presidency of the World's Governing body.

The board of Cycling Ireland agreed to nominate McQuaid, who is seeking a third term in office, following a lengthy meeting in Dublin on Friday night.

Having been head of the organisation for almost eight years now, it is also very likely that he will serve a third term as head of the sport, despite much opposition.

A statement by Cycling Ireland on Friday evening said that though they'd be nominating McQuaid, they expressed some issues with how affairs were handled and suggested ways that the UCI could clean up its image for the betterment of the sport.

"The board requested that Pat McQuaid would raise with the UCI management committee certain concerns on governance issues which they would consider for tabling at the 2013 UCI Congress. The specific issues are:

1. An independent review of the system of internal controls and processes at the UCI, with the findings to be published and the recommendations implemented.

2. Engagement with Stakeholders to re-write the existing Governance Code and the Code of Ethics, as set out in the Constitution of the UCI.

3. The following proposals are to be put forward to UCI Management Committee for tabling at the 2013 Congress at:

a. A limitation on the period for which a president or vice president can serve in the UCI as follows effective after the 2013 Congress:

i. The maximum number of two four-year terms.

ii. No president, vice president or management committee member can serve the UCI for more than 16 years in total over their life time, in any capacity (paid, voluntary or other).

b. That co-opted management committee members are permitted to vote on all matters which management committee members are entitled to vote.

McQuaid's current tenure will come to an end in September, at which point an election will decide if he will continue for a third term, as he hopes, or if another candidate will be successful and take over at the helm.

The Irishman flew into Dublin from his base in Switzerland to appear before the Cycling Ireland board members at their meeting in the Clarion Hotel at Dublin Airport. He addressed the board, explaining why he was looking for the federation's nomination to run for president and outlining why he believed he was the best candidate for the job.

He also took questions from board members. Some members of the Irish cycling community spoke in support of him at Cycling Ireland's AGM last November. However, others have grave concerns about the UCI and McQuaid's leadership of it, with most of those concerns focussed on the manner in which the UCI handled the Lance Armstrong affair.

Many are also concerned about the UCI's approach to the doping issue generally during McQuaid's presidency and the terms of his predecessor Hein Verbruggen.