McQuaid promises to heal divisions

CYCLING: Irish sport received a substantial boost yesterday with the election of Pat McQuaid to the presidency of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling's world governing body.

McQuaid was the clear winner of the election in Madrid, defeating Spain's Gregorio Moreno by 31 votes to 11. He takes over from Hein Verbruggen, who was at the head of the UCI for the past 14 years.

McQuaid, a professional with the Viking team in England in the early 1980s, had been regarded as the likely successor since the UCI management board agreed on his candidature two years ago.

The election campaign had, however, become increasingly bitter in recent months, with former UCI board member Sylvia Schenk and presidential candidate Darsan Singh Gill claiming the 56-year-old Irishman was receiving payment for his work with the UCI, contrary to the constitution of the governing body.

McQuaid and Verbruggen rejected the charges and while Schenk took the complaint to the IOC, their ethics committee dismissed her application earlier this week for lack of evidence.

That cleared the way for McQuaid's election yesterday.

One of the biggest challenges facing McQuaid is the growing rift between the UCI and the organisers of the Tours of France, Italy and Spain, who have been in conflict with the governing body this year over the new ProTour series.

McQuaid said he would come in with a fresh outlook.

"I am different to Hein and I am sure I will go at it from a slightly different approach to him. Mine will be the Irish approach, and we are good at negotiations. Perhaps we will solve things by having our meetings in the bar," he joked.

l The highly promising Philip Deignan leads the Irish charge in the 168-kilometre World Championship under-23 road race in Madrid this afternoon. His bid for a medal will be backed by four others - Paídí O'Brien, Ryan Connor, Miceal Concannon and Pat McQuaid's son Andrew.

Before then, Siobhán Dervan is the sole Irish participant in the 126-kilometre women's race.