UCI PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGER Brian Cookson says he was “disturbed” by the contents of a high-level dossier presented to cycling bosses.
As a member of the UCI’s Management Committee Cookson was in Bergen, Norway, last week where the document was discussed by the sport’s top officials.
The contents of the dossier, brought forward by US representative Mike Plant, have not been made public but it is believed to concern incumbent president Pat McQuaid and his years in office.
Though he would not break the confidentiality of the meeting, Cookson says he has been assured that the matters arising will be properly investigated.
“Over the past weekend, you may have read reports on the proceedings of last week’s UCI Management Committee in Bergen,” Cookson, the president of British Cycling, wrote in a blog post today.
“I have to respect the confidentiality of the Management Committee with regards to the contents of the dossier with which we were presented. But what I can say is that I was disturbed by what I heard and I have been assured it will be properly investigated.”
Pressure on McQuaid intensified over the weekend as his bid for a third term as president hit another significant setback. At an EGM on Saturday, Cycling Ireland reversed its decision to support his candidacy by 91 votes to 74.
Cookson is due to unveil his campaign manifesto next Monday, 24 June, in Paris.
