Former UCI president Pat McQuaid was spotted in and around the Tour de France during this week’s rest day.
The beleaguered former UCI boss was "buttonholed" by the French website, Cyclsime Actu, and asked about this year’s race, and his thoughts regarding "changes" in the leadership of the UCI.
Somewhat sarcastically, McQuaid compared himself and Brian Cookson to French politicos Sarkozy and Hollande, by saying:
"When Sarkozy was president of France you had Hollande who came in against him and said, ‘Oh Sarkzoky isn’t doing this, he’s not doing that.’ Well, now Hollande is President of France and it’s a little bit worse than it was in the past!” laughed McQuaid.
“I don’t follow UCI events that closely, I follow it from a distance, but I’ve turned the page and have other things to do, the UCI is finished for me. I’m happy to see that cycling is in a very, very good place at the moment, the health of the riders, the fight against doping is working well and the peloton is much, much cleaner than it has ever been in the history of the sport and that is, eh, thanks to me, thanks to the work that I did when I was at the UCI, things that I put in place in the fight against doping and I am happy… I think in years to come when the history of cycling is written, I think I’ll have my place and be well regarded in that history,” noted McQuaid with confidence.
When asked further about how he felt he was treated at the time of last year’s election, McQuaid once again referred to the Sarkozy – Hollande analogy:
“Ah…yes, it was hard at the time but it’s easy to say things. When Sarkozy was president of France you had Hollande who came in against him and said, ‘Oh Sarkzoky isn’t doing this, he’s not doing that.’ Well, now Hollande is President of France and it’s a little bit worse than it was in the past!” laughed McQuaid.
“It’s easy to say things in politics when you are the challenger, but after you have won the position, then you have to deliver on your promises and I’m still waiting on promises being delivered,” smiled McQuaid.
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