Former Tour de France champion said he plans to for the presidency of the UCI after being asked this past weekend at the conference in London. The conference included who met to figure out a way to clean up the sport.
鈥淚f we want to
restore public confidence and sponsors, we must act quickly and
decisively,” LeMond told French newspaper . “Otherwise, cycling will die. Riders do not understand that
if we continue like this, there will soon be no money in cycling.鈥
, 51, is the only American with Tour de France titles鈥攖he UCI stripped Lance Armstrong of his titles in October. LeMond over the past decade, , and has recently been outspoken about the need to clean up the sport immediately.
he thinks current president Pat McQuaid, who has , had his chance and failed.
“Pat McQuaid and Verbruggen had multiple opportunities to things, and they did not,” said LeMond in . “There was the Festina affair in 1998 and the Puerto affair in 2006, and now Armstrong. Each time, they announced a new departure for the bike. And what has changed? Nothing. They are totally disqualified. The UCI is a company that does business. That is why Armstrong was able to win all his titles with total impunity. The fair competition and the health of riders increased after economic interests. Today, we must the management team.”
The next election will be held in March of 2013. Change Cycling Now has put up on its website that people can sign to express a no confidence vote in Pat McQuaid and honorary president Hein Verbruggen.
You can read the interview with LeMond on this .
鈥擩oe Spring