Leaders Sport Business Podcast

Leaders Sport Business Podcast


Ep 19: Brian Cookson

September 07, 2017

Brian Cookson has been President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) UCI since 2013. Seeking a second four-year term in office, the Englishman faces a vote at the UCI Congress on 21st September.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Cookson discusses the key battleground areas between his campaign and that of his election opponent, David Lappartient, and reviews the milestone moments of this presidency thus far, including:

- restoring the integrity of cycling
- re-establishing relations with WADA
- Undertaking and enacting the recommendations of the Cycling Independent Reform Commission
- introducing the women's WorldTour

We also touch on:

- international federations as regulators naturally opposed to monopolies and the UCI's relationship with Tour de France organiser ASO
- the ambitions of Chinese conglomerate Wanda in cycling
- new formats
- discredited people being welcomed back into the sport
- the pros and cons of taking a major sporting event to Qatar