By Shane Stokes in Stuttgart, Germany The UCI have hit back with a strongly worded response to the...
Pat McQuaid guaranteed (Image credit: AFP)
McQuaid questions Stuttgart mayor of sport's motives
By Shane Stokes in Stuttgart, Germany
The UCI have hit back with a strongly worded response to the announcement on Thursday morning by Stuttgart Mayor of Sport Susanne Eisenmann that a court injunction has been taken out by the race organisers to try to block the participation of Paolo Bettini and Danilo Di Luca in the Elite road race on Sunday.
On Thursday evening President Pat McQuaid read a statement to the assembled media which seems certain to further increase the tension between Eisenmann and the UCI.
"The UCI would very much like to denounce the actions of Doctor Eisenmann in this situation, because it seems to us that she is following a strategy which is political and commercial," he said. After explaining the reasons why the UCI did not have the power to exclude riders for non-signature of the Riders's Commitment for a New Cycling, he went on to question Eisenmann's motives for her statement this morning and the court case started today.
"From the political point of view, she has her own political ambitions and she is following a certain strategy in using these events for that purpose. From a commercial point of view, it is important that you know that the organisation here has still not paid a substantial sum of money to the UCI in relation to the contract for this event. It would seem to the UCI that she is trying to use certain actions here to attempt to find a way out of that commitment."
Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
