Brian Cookson wants to come back. The English leader, elected president of the International Cycling Union in September 2013, where he succeeded Irishman Pat McQuaid, anticipated possible competition by declaring very early on his intention to seek a second mandate.
Five months before the election, scheduled for September 21 in Bergen, Norway, he detailed for FrancsJeux his motivations, his results, his vision for the future of cycling. And his perception of the battle between Paris and Los Angeles for the 2024 Games.
FrancsJeux: Why are you seeking a second term as president of the UCI?
Brian Cookson: A lot was accomplished during my first term. If you look back four years, the UCI was facing a pretty catastrophic situation, with cycling having lost its image and reputation. We have done a lot to raise the bar, to develop women's cycling, to better establish our disciplines in Africa and Asia, but the work is not finished, far from it. The balance of professional road cycling, especially the World Tour, remains to be stabilized. I am proud and satisfied with the progress made during my first mandate, but we must continue on this path.
Is cycling in better shape than when you took over as president of the UCI?
I think so. Cycling's reputation has been restored. The figures prove it. Today we have more spectators, teams, countries and events than four years ago. Television coverage has also increased. Germany, for example, where the channels had deserted our sport, has returned. The Women's World Tour is an undeniable success.
During these first four years at the head of the UCI, where do you feel you have failed?
Doubts continue to exist about performance, particularly in the professional ranks. They now even relate to technological fraud. The suspicion persists. We have made significant progress in our anti-doping process, making our system independent from the UCI, preventing conflicts of interest. For me, the UCI has not failed. But the task is extremely difficult, especially in the very particular ecosystem of world cycling.
What is your campaign theme for this second term?
Cycling can no longer afford to live in a state of tension and conflict, as it has experienced in recent years. We have built solid foundations. We must now erect a stable building.
You have never hidden your ambition to win a bigger place for cycling in the Olympics. Where are you today on this issue?
We are in final negotiations with the IOC. Everything is being played out. All the international federations want more today, but I am almost certain that we will not lose any events at the Tokyo 2020 Games. But we also want more. In track cycling, in particular, where we hope for two additional events, in Madison, a discipline which could make its return for men and its debut for women. We also hope for entry into the BMX freestyle program. Today we have 18 medal events at the Games, we hope for 4 more: 2 on the track, 2 in BMX. We are realistic but optimistic for Tokyo 2020. We may not have everything we would like, but the place of cycling will undoubtedly be more important.
David Lappartient, the French president of the European Cycling Union, recently told FrancsJeux that you did not provide strong enough leadership in his eyes. He believes that power is too often in the hands of the UCI administration. What do you say to this criticism?
I believe that there is a misunderstanding between the role of governance and that of management. The first needs a strong president and the second an equally strong executive director. The two components must work together, each with its own tasks to accomplish. Mine consists of embodying the UCI, promoting cycling throughout the world, and negotiating with all stakeholders in the sporting movement. Leadership is assured. And I can count on a very strong team at the UCI for the entire operational part, particularly the events.
During the last SportAccord Convention, earlier this month in Aarhus, you questioned the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, about the place of cycling in his city and in L.A.'s vision for the 2024 Games. On this unit of measurement, how do you compare Los Angeles and Paris?
Cycling is a special case, perhaps even a unique case: both an elite and mass sport, a pastime and a leisure activity, a means of transport, a health sport, a tool to reduce pollution and relieve road traffic congestion. You can't swim to work, but you can bike. Today, cities are very interested in the possibility of using cycling and its development to justify their investment in elite sport and the organization of major events, including the Olympic Games. Los Angeles is known worldwide for being built around a logic of motorized travel. My question to Eric Garcetti was clear: what can you do to develop cycling and improve the quality of life through it.
For the UCI, is it more interesting to have the Games in a city and a country where cycling is already developed, like France, or on the contrary in a market where everything remains to be done?
In a city or a country where cycling occupies a small part, we are waiting to see what an application offers to develop the cycling activity and its practice.
Did the Los Angeles mayor's response satisfy you?
I was happy to hear that the city was putting in place an investment plan to improve the quality of life through cycling. The result is never due to chance. We must invest in the construction of trails, parking spaces for bicycles, and safe and well-equipped practice areas.
