"Let us continue to build a positive future for the UCI"

Original date of this blog entry: 20th September 2017 - this was my last message to delegates to the UCI Congress before the election.

Brian Cookson has made an impassioned and powerful appeal to voting delegates ahead of tomorrow’s (September 21) vote to elect the UCI President for the next four years.

Cookson is in Bergen, which is hosting the UCI Road World Championships and is also one of the UCI Bike Cities, where he is keen to discuss his vision for the next four years with voting delegates, National Federations and International Confederations.

Brian Cookson said: “The UCI is unrecognisable from the chaotic and dysfunctional state it was in when I took over as President four years ago. Cycling was broken and its credibility lay in tatters under the old regime.

“Our transformation has not happened by chance, but through a huge amount of hard work and determination to transform the UCI into a world class governing body which sets a global standard.

“The UCI’s relationships with the IOC, WADA, sponsors, race organisers and teams at the very highest level and, most importantly the fans, are now stronger than for a generation. We have much to do and, if re-elected, I intend to build on the significant progress that has been made during the first four years of my Presidency.

“I have delivered on my promises, and demonstrated that I am a man that can be trusted to lead the UCI with good judgement and calm integrity. And I have shown consistently that I am a UCI President for ALL cycling disciplines.

“Voting delegates have a clear choice between someone who has kept his word, delivered change, and restored the UCI’s credibility......and someone who has allied himself with, and is supported by, the forces of the past.

“Make no mistake – we must look forward and build on our restored credibility, providing more opportunities for developing nations and even more support for those who require it most. That means creating more satellite centres, providing more equipment and more training camps for National Federations and their riders.

“We are here in Bergen, the first time the UCI Road World Championships are taking place in a city chosen since I was elected – and we can see here the huge and renewed enthusiasm that there now is for our beautiful sport. Now we must build upon the progress we have made with even more ambitious plans to take cycling to the next level.

“My leadership style is about consensus building, partnership building and involving all stakeholders in a way that is appropriate, assertive and strong and I believe that over the next four years, if re-elected, the UCI will go from strength to strength on my watch.”  

Brian Cookson aims to drive growth across all of cycling’s disciplines, accelerate international development, champion cycling for transport and leisure, ensure there is equal opportunity for men and women to participate and compete, build on cycling’s restored credibility and ensure the UCI continues to drive excellence in its operations.