McQuaid lobbying against me, says UCI president

The head of cycling’s world governing body has expressed “grave concern” that his predecessor is “actively lobbying” against him.
The sport’s most powerful figure – Briton Brian Cookson – is being challenged by Frenchman David Lappartient in next week’s UCI presidential election.
Cookson says he has been shown “proof” the man he deposed in 2013, Pat McQuaid, is trying to influence the vote.
In an increasingly bitter fight, Cookson also said Lappartient would take the UCI in a “devastating direction” if he wins.
Lappartient responded by saying the claims were a “clear sign of despair from Brian Cookson and his languished campaign”.
McQuaid was among those heavily criticised in a landmark report published in 2015 into the sport’s troubled recent history.
Cookson had criticised the Irishman’s handling of the Lance Armstrong scandal, prior to beating him in an acrimonious presidential campaign in 2013.
McQuaid has called Cookson “a fraud”, and has publicly backed Lappartient.
McQuaid has left cycling politics. But one UCI voting delegate – who does not wish to be identified – has told the BBC that he received an email purportedly from McQuaid urging him to back Lappartient.
In the email said to be from McQuaid – obtained by the BBC – he says that “cycling stakeholders; teams, riders, organisers have no respect for UCI under Brian.
“Having been president for eight years I know what is involved and how a president should act and lead his sport.
“Unfortunately I haven’t seen any of this from Brian these past four years. Indeed, he has abdicated his responsibilities.
“They have a big communications machine behind them which gives the impression everything is rosy but behind the scenes I am aware it is not.
“Brian hasn’t made it to any board such as the IOC… and so UCI has little clout in the larger international sporting world.
“…I do think David Lappartient could do a much better job and be a real leader of UCI. So I ask you to support David…” (BBC Sport)