Brian Cookson announces intent to develop women's team

Image 1 of 5

Brian Cookson addresses the congress(Image credit: SWPix/UCI)

Former UCI president Brian Cookson is planning to develop a professional women's team by 2019. The 66-year-old Briton, who lost his bid for re-election to the top post at cycling's governing body to David Lappartient in September, announced his intentions in a statement released on Sunday.

"Over the next few months, I am going to be exploring the possibilities of setting up a new professional cycling team structure," he said. "My intention is that this should begin with the establishing of a UCI Women's WorldTour Team for 2019 – a team that will meet or exceed the new high standards that are likely to be put in place by the UCI for the new two-tier structure for Women's Teams that was developed during my term as UCI President.

"I am not just talking about a top-level team in the traditional sense. There has never been so much interest in women's sport, fitness and health generally, and this is clearly reflected in the interest in women's cycling, not just at the elite level, but in terms of general participation. It seems to me that we are at a moment of real opportunity for women's cycling. We are at a pivotal point, a sea-change in attitude towards women's sport in the media and amongst the public is taking place, and we should seize this opportunity."

"I am putting this idea out there because I want to stimulate the decision-makers in those companies, many of whom (men and women) enjoy cycling themselves, to start to think about the possibilities," he said. "The potential return on their investment could be very substantial, but I want to make it clear that it will need innovation, creativity, and a major effort from their side to make that happen."