{"id":2635,"date":"2013-08-23T00:30:19","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T00:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crankpunk.com\/?p=2635"},"modified":"2013-08-23T00:32:15","modified_gmt":"2013-08-23T00:32:15","slug":"mcquaif-down-for-the-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/08\/23\/mcquaif-down-for-the-count\/","title":{"rendered":"McQuaid down for the count?"},"content":{"rendered":"

this article was written by cp and originally appeared in The Roar<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

__________________<\/p>\n

The drama and tension is supposed to belong on the road, not off it. Not in stuffy offices with strip lighting and Ikea desks, the characters wearing Hush Puppies and blue suits rather than Sidis and lycra.<\/p>\n

Yet the battle this time isn\u2019t for a stage win or a Tour jersey, but for the soul of the sport, and if the battle ground must be a dreary municipal courtroom in Switzerland rather than the majestic hairpins of Alpe d\u2019Huez, then so be it.<\/p>\n

Just yesterday news came through that Swiss Cycling had withdrawn its nomination of Pat McQuaid for the UCI presidential election, coming next month, a statement that was quickly denied by McQuaid, just before he ran off, chased in black and white by a gang of Keystone Cops.<\/p>\n

He really does seem to live in a parallel universe, Mr McQuaid, in some farcical land where facts seem not to matter.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dodge and deny\u2019 seems to be his motto. That it\u2019s stood him in such good stead until now is quite incredible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe managing committee of Swiss cycling has returned to its decision of 13 May 2013 regarding the nomination of Pat McQuaid and decided to withdraw the nomination of Pat McQuaid for his re-election to the presidency of the UCI,\u201d the statement from Swiss Cycling read.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth remembering McQuaid was already bending the rules in seeking the nomination from Swiss Cycling, after Cycling Ireland had gathered its members to vote \u2018no\u2019 to the question or whether to back him for a third term as UCI president.<\/p>\n

McQuaid\u2019s interpretation of the rules did not align with the majority of people who care about cycling, and when voices of unrest began to be heard (despite McQuaid having a finger in each ear and singing \u2018la-la-la-la\u2019 at the top of his voice), he then scuttled off to Malaysia to ask their cycling federation to ask for a new amendment to the UCI rule that pertained to his case.<\/p>\n

His position is now unenviable, and it looks for all intents and purposes as though this duck has had his day. But then, this is McQuaid.<\/p>\n

He has shown to date a disregard for the valid concerns of the cycling fan and a refusal to accept the severity and depth of the problem this sport has with banned substances, preferring instead to preen his feathers and ignore any calls for real change.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s side of the sport has been grossly neglected and the growth of cycling in Asia in particular is being encouraged with disregard to proper drug testing.<\/p>\n

But what of the alternatives? Well, we have just one. I am dismayed by this, to think that our choice is limited to just two candidates.<\/p>\n

The other candidate is Brian Cookson, who now looks to be set to win the election by default, not something, really, to cheer about, no matter the circumstances.<\/p>\n

Cookson has been saying encouraging things and, though it is no real comfort, cannot possibly be worse at the job than McQuaid has been.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe important principle in any democracy is that you must respect the rules as they are, not how you\u2019d like them to be,\u201d said Cookson, speaking of McQuaid\u2019s position after Swiss Cycling left him high and dry.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope remains that we have a democratic process based on the rules of the race when it started rather than those made up half way through.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my part I remain focussed on setting out the policies and the vision that I believe is needed for the UCI and the sport of cycling to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

A vision? Move forward? I\u2019ll believe it when I see it.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

this article was written by cp and originally appeared in The Roar __________________ The drama and tension is supposed to belong on the road, not off it. Not in stuffy offices with strip lighting and Ikea desks, the characters wearing Hush Puppies and blue suits rather than Sidis and lycra. Yet the battle this time isn\u2019t for a stage win or a Tour jersey, but for the soul of the sport, and if the battle ground must be a dreary municipal courtroom in Switzerland rather than the majestic hairpins of Alpe d\u2019Huez, then so be it. Just yesterday news came through that Swiss Cycling had withdrawn its nomination of Pat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40955418,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wpupg_custom_link":[],"wpupg_custom_link_behaviour":[],"wpupg_custom_link_nofollow":[],"wpupg_custom_image":[],"wpupg_custom_image_id":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119818829,194158,159546164],"tags":[46648215,77823,19229,9543826,814023,65632,8120,237501],"class_list":["post-2635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dopepunk","category-other-publications","category-punkopinion","tag-brian-cookson","tag-doping","tag-election","tag-lee-rodgers","tag-pat-mcquaid","tag-presidency","tag-switzerland","tag-uci"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2OfoS-Gv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2338,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/06\/13\/dr-conor-mcgrane-on-the-pat-mcquaid-file-and-an-extraordinary-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":2635,"position":0},"title":"Dr. Conor McGrane on The Pat McQuaid File and an extraordinary meeting","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"6\u6708 13, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"you will no doubt be aware of the recent rumblings concerning the nomination of the UCI head honcho Mr. Pat McQuaid, who in his quest to grab another term as president of the beloved world governing body of cycling is causing divisions within the sport. and when i say 'body'\u2026","rel":"","context":"dopepunk","block_context":{"text":"dopepunk","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/dopepunk\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/screen-shot-2013-06-14-at-e4b88ae58d8812-17-22.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/screen-shot-2013-06-14-at-e4b88ae58d8812-17-22.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/screen-shot-2013-06-14-at-e4b88ae58d8812-17-22.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/screen-shot-2013-06-14-at-e4b88ae58d8812-17-22.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1979,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/05\/17\/i-thought-the-swiss-were-neutral\/","url_meta":{"origin":2635,"position":1},"title":"i thought the Swiss were neutral?","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"5\u6708 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"oh Switzerland. in the name of several million bovine and almost as many annoying little clocks, why? what possessed you to stump up for Mr McQuaid when even his own turned their backs on him? and i thought only King Kong had balls this size - the size\u00a0 required to\u2026","rel":"","context":"punkopinion","block_context":{"text":"punkopinion","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/punkopinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/75545-nazigold.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/75545-nazigold.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/75545-nazigold.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2536,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/08\/01\/pats-banana-republic-or-what-a-head\/","url_meta":{"origin":2635,"position":2},"title":"Pat McQuaid’s Banana Republic","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"8\u6708 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I once described Pat McQuaid\u2019s presidency of the world cycling governing body, the UCI, as resembling a banana republic. In retrospect, that was a bit harsh on banana republics. Defined as \u2018A small nation dependent on one crop or the influx of foreign capital\u2019, the term doesn\u2019t even come close\u2026","rel":"","context":"punkopinion","block_context":{"text":"punkopinion","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/punkopinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pat McQuaid, lying just off the coast of China","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/japan.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3135,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/12\/02\/encouraging-signs-to-now-from-cooksons-presidency-though-time-will-tell\/","url_meta":{"origin":2635,"position":3},"title":"Encouraging signs to now from Cookson’s presidency, though time will tell","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"12\u6708 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"By Shane Stokes This week\u2019s news that Brian Cookson will ensure that the UCI looks into the matter of a long-running appeal for compensation from the widow of a pro rider who died in a race in 2005 is encouraging, even if the final outcome is not yet certain. 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I know, it\u2019s too early yet to\u2026","rel":"","context":"other publications","block_context":{"text":"other publications","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/other-publications\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"images","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/images1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":288,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2012\/10\/22\/the-uci-says-blah-blah-blah-in-a-room-somewhere\/","url_meta":{"origin":2635,"position":5},"title":"the UCI says ‘blah blah blah’ in a room somewhere","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"10\u6708 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"the UCI confirmed today that LA will indeed lose all his Tour titles and a whole lot besides. \"Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling,\u201d said Pat McQuaid at the conference. reports that he was reading off cue boards written in red lipstick and being held by the UCI's honorary\u2026","rel":"","context":"dopepunk","block_context":{"text":"dopepunk","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/dopepunk\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/screen-shot-2012-10-22-at-e4b88be58d8811-08-33.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Lee Rodgers","author_link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/author\/crankpunk\/"},"rttpg_comment":1,"rttpg_category":"dopepunk<\/a> other publications<\/a> punkopinion<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"this article was written by cp and originally appeared in The Roar __________________ The drama and tension is supposed to belong on the road, not off it. Not in stuffy offices with strip lighting and Ikea desks, the characters wearing Hush Puppies and blue suits rather than Sidis and lycra. Yet the battle this time…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40955418"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2635"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17008,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635\/revisions\/17008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}