Brian Cookson is the new president of the International Cycling Union! Out with Pat McQuaid who has been accused of infecting cycling with his particular virus of lies, cover-ups, and corruption. We cycling fanatics hope that the new administration will focus on the ideals of honesty, straightforwardness, and transparency.
But will this be the case? Brian Cookson does seem an odd choice in light of the current doping scandals that continue to plague Team Sky, Bradley Wiggins, and Chris Froome. No need to mention the continuing skepticism that plagues the resurgence in British cycling Mr. Cookson seems to be directly involved with as past President of British Cycling. This British Cycling resurgence allegedly was nothing more than a harmless effort to invest money into a British national cycling program that had the goal of dominating Olympic and UCI track and road races. Money spent on better facilities attracts better athletes. Better athletes win more races. The East Germans had the same philosophy. But the East German state understood that no matter how athletically gifted her citizens are, it is virtually impossible for a single country to dominate Olympic and UCI cycling without using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Here are the most salient questionable points directly related to the absurd success of the recently resurgent British Cycling program quoted directly from the New York Times article composed by Ian Austen.
When Cookson, a modestly successful amateur cyclist, and landscape architect, became president of British Cycling in 1997, it was near bankruptcy. Britain had won one Olympic gold medal in 76 years, and rare appearances by British teams at the Tour de France were embarrassments. Development programs and partnerships introduced by Cookson, along with British national lottery money, helped Britain win gold medals in eight cycling events at last year’s Olympics. The last two Tour de France winners, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, ride for Team Sky, the professional offshoot of British Cycling.
"One gold medal in seventy-six years" then gold medals in eight Olympic cycling events! British teams and riders were once considered embarrassments in previous editions of the Tour de France. Tommy Simpson and British petroleum not excepted. But suddenly, after the newly minted British Cycling program developed by Brian Cookson, Team Sky dominates the Tour de France with wide margins not seen since U.S. Postal and Lance Armstrong! Bradley Wiggins in spite of his track racing prowess was never considered a good Grand Tour road cyclist; then suddenly he wins the race going away! Team Sky dominates the peloton like Discovery Channel! Brian Cookson seems an odd choice to elect as the new president of the UCI in light of the fact that people are declaring this new resurgence in British Cycling suspect, possibly aided by performance-enhancing drug use. Brian Cookson may be ignorant of any dope related malfeasance among British Cycling or Team Sky riders; but then again, if these incredible results call for an "independent" investigation, the chair of this "independent" investigation may be the fox who is investigating the disappearance of the hens from the coop, for which he bears some responsibility. Of course, this fox will lead the investigators astray with obscurantism since he and his fellow foxes may be culpable. Realistically, money can't buy all of this British success!
The British are making the Italians, French, and Belgians look like fools! Countries who have produced numerous great cycling champions; Eddy Merckx, Gino Bartali, Bernard Hinault, and Fausto Coppi. The Spanish have produced many great champions, Alberto Contador excepted. Federico Bahamontes was a naturally gifted legendary climber of exceptional merit. What has Britain given us? Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome? Both British Tour de France champions are suspected of achieving success from performance-enhancing drug use.
I hope this change in the UCI leadership is something more than a cosmetic sea change which amounts to more of the same. Of course, who would argue getting rid of Pat McQuaid is wrong? Cycling was tainted from steroids and those who were accused of facilitating their use. But what now? Has cycling evolved, finally into a new "clean" era, and can the UCI administration "finally" be trusted to tell the truth in an honest, straightforward, and transparent manner? Or when the evidence points to potential wrongdoing will we be fed more lies and deceptions? Brian Cookson is an odd choice as UCI President given his potential involvement in a resurgence in British Cycling that makes no sense and is clearly suspect. But why not give the man a chance to hang himself?
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