IOC rejects complaints; Election to go ahead as planned
By Hernan Alvarez Macias in Madrid
The petition that the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) presented to a Swiss court against the UCI was rejected by a Swiss judge and therefore the elections next Friday will have UCI president Hein Verbruggen as the chairman. The general secretary of the RFEC, Eugenio Bermudez told Cyclingnews. "The judge decided not to name a substitute president. With 48 hours to go to the congress, and considering the situation, it wasn't worth it to name someone for this ceremony."
Thus, the annual congress should be held on Friday with all the UCI authorities present and with Verbruggen leading the act. The UCI had further reason to rejoice today as the IOC ethics commission rejected all complaints presented by Sylvia Schenk, Darshan Singh, and the RFEC, against the UCI, its President Hein Verbruggen and its management committee member Pat McQuaid. The IOC ethics commission stated, "The plaintiffs have not brought forward the proof that the UCI and its President have violated fundamental ethics principles as prescribed in the Olympic Charter."
Gregorio Moreno's opinion
Spain's Gregorio Moreno is one of the candidates who wishes to replace Verbruggen. Cyclingnews spoke to him while he was watching the World's time trials on Day 1. "I'm not actually happy with the current situation," said Moreno. "I think that the Spanish Federation is doing well looking for guarantees for the electoral process that didn't exist during the process. On the other hand, I didn't want to get involved in these accusations. There were things that shouldn't have happened in an electoral process and I wait for Friday's congress. I will accept every result; if I win or I lose. I hope that the congress runs in a normal way. In the end, the voters are the ones who have the final word."
We asked him about his platform, should he be elected. "I presented my candidature for president because there were some federations that were not happy, and some parts of professional cycling not happy with the current situation. I want to change the way of governing cycling. The problem that road cycling has at the moment is the UCI ProTour. I don't want to make the ProTour disappear. I want an elite competition with some things corrected."
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
