I once described Pat McQuaid\u2019s presidency of the world cycling governing body, the UCI, as resembling a banana republic.<\/p>\n
In retrospect, that was a bit harsh on banana republics.<\/p>\n
Defined as \u2018A small nation dependent on one crop or the influx of foreign capital\u2019, the term doesn\u2019t even come close to encapsulating the charade that the UCI truly is.<\/p>\n
Whilst the UCI under the Irishman has essentially ignored and denigrated all aspects of cycling other than the cash cow with the golden udders that is the top tier of the sport – including young rider development, anti-doping and the women\u2019s side of the sport, relying truly on \u2018one crop\u2019 – it is far worse than that staid definition of \u2018banana republic\u2019.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason why a character with such dubious personality traits as Lance Armstrong thrived for so long under the presidencies of Hein Verbruggen (1991-2005) and then McQuaid (2005-), and it is this – his modus operandi perfectly complimented the goals of the governing body under those two gentlemen.<\/p>\n
Verbruggen wanted a star system to propel his vision of cycling in the 90s, a desire so great that his henchmen \u2013 from coaches, doctors, journalists to riders – \u00a0turned a blind eye even when young rider began dying in droves in the early 90s.<\/p>\n
How did they die? From abusing EPO, the \u2018wonder drug\u2019 that fueled the star system and created the supermen that held the cycling world in thrall in that era.<\/p>\n
It was, for sponsors, TV companies and the governing body alike, a match made in heaven. For anyone with a shred of a conscience however, they recognized that though the money men saw the marriage as divine, the details of the deal had been thrashed out a far darker place.<\/p>\n
Verbruggen left in 2005 (but remains as \u2018honorary president\u2019, a misnomer if ever there was one), allowing his hand-picked successor to slip in seamlessly onto the velvet throne.<\/p>\n
McQuaid then began a \u2018business-as-usual\u2019 reign that continues to this day, despite the trials and tribulations \u2013 and they have been massive \u2013 that his ship has been beset by.<\/p>\n
Why, had the Titanic been even half as robust as McQuaid\u2019s presidency it could have sailed into Antartica and split that great frozen waste in two.<\/p>\n
An iceberg? Pffffft. No worries. Get the gin & tonics ready.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like a giant Hummer with desks and rubber stamps. Bullet-proof glass, bomb-proof underside, armour plated doors, paper weights, clip-on ties and lots of Hush Puppies.<\/p>\n
Look out: Uber-Bureaucracy is rumbling into town, and it\u2019s gone quite insane.<\/p>\n
How so? Well, here where\u2019s the madness reaches new heights.<\/p>\n
McQuaid recently suffered the ignominy of having his bid for backing for re-election as UCI President from Cycling Ireland chucked out on its shell like into a murky Dublin back alley, which sent him all a-huffin\u2019 and a-puffin\u2019 to Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Once there and after a quick session of chocolate freebasing and checking out the latest trends in leather shorts, our dear Prez then managed to get the executive of Swiss Cycling to back his re-election bid.<\/p>\n
All seemed fine. Phew! But invariably, just as when you\u2019re smelling the flower and you realize you’re up to your knees in sheep crap, there were mumblings about the legitimacy of being backed for the presidency by any federation other than the candidate\u2019s national body.<\/p>\n
McQuaid bluff and blustered his way through the questions, maintaining that his bid was legitimate and that there was no legal impediment to Swiss Cycling backing him.<\/p>\n
But then some noisy little brats from Swiss Cycling began to complain. Then a date was set for a hearing into the legitimacy of that backing, August 22nd<\/sup>, a hearing McQuaid cannot be certain he will win.<\/p>\n
To add to his woes, someone else \u2013 shocker! \u2013 decided they\u2019d throw their hat into the presidential ring – Brian Cookson.<\/p>\n
And it seems he doesn\u2019t have much time for Our Pat, and that he has the backing of some influential figures in the game. With most cycling fans tired of seeing the Verbruggen\/McQuaid Dynasty ruling over the sport, Cookson has the hesitant support of many\u00a0 – hesitant because we don\u2019t really know if Cookson will be good for the sport, but then, well, how could he be worse?<\/p>\n
So, game over for Pat?<\/p>\n
Not a chance. Pat came up with a brilliant plan.<\/p>\n
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