The Spanish candidate for the UCI presidency, Gregorio Moreno, says that he has the unanimous support of all Spanish cycling bodies and that he is not a puppet for the Grand Tour organisers in their fight against aspects of the UCI's ProTour. After current UCI president Hein Verbruggen suggested that Mr Moreno was acting like a candidate for the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, the Spaniard issued a statement clarifying his position.
"The competence to present candidatures corresponds to the National Federations, not to the Race Organisers. Mr. Gregorio Moreno is a candidate on recommendation of the Spanish Federation, and not by intermediary of the Race Organizers. This candidature was presented in the right time and form by this Spanish Federation, with the support, the approval and the impulse of:
- The Spanish Teams Association.
- Spanish Riders Association.
- The Spanish Races Organizers Association.
- The Spanish Professional Cycling Council
- The Spanish Higher Sports Council.
- The Spanish Cycling Federation.
Mr Moreno went on to state that he has never received any financial assistance from the Grand Tour organisers, and has developed his activities in cycling independently of the Teams, Organizers, Riders and the UCI. He concluded: "It is obvious that the Spanish candidate, Mr. Gregorio Moreno, enjoys the unanimous support of all the Spanish cycling organisations, and also of the Spanish political sports institutions, circumstances which should be evaluated adequately by Mr. Verbruggen before carrying out inadequate declarations, and which grant support for Mr. Moreno. We doubt the other candidates enjoy this much [support] in their respective countries."
Cyclingnews coverage of the UCI elections
September 24 - Spain's perspective on UCI election result
September 24 - Darshan Singh retires
September 23 - A wonderful moment for McQuaid
September 23 - McQuaid wins UCI presidential election
September 22 - IOC rejects complaints; Election to go ahead as planned
September 21 - World's opens, Spanish federation explains
September 20 - UCI committee exits Madrid
September 18 - Conflict between Schenk and UCI goes on
September 15 - Moreno not a Grand Tour stooge
September 8 - Baguet explains, Singh files third complaint
September 6 - McQuaid still UCI choice
September 3 - Verbruggen candidate for UCI presidency again
August 31 - Verbruggen nominated for UCI president
August 25 - UCI Ethics Commission meets
August 17 - Darshan Singh protests against UCI elections
Interview with Pat McQuaid: Next in line? Part II
Interview with Sylvia Schenk: Continuing her quest for Law & Order. Part II
August 6 - Moreno aims for presidency role
July 31 - UCI attacks Sylvia Schenk
Interview with Pat McQuaid: ProTour & Phonak, New teams & the UCI succession. Part II
