Amina Lanaya

Morocco/France

Director General of the International Cycling Union (UCI)

After studying law and several experiences in law firms in Paris and Lausanne, Amina Lanaya joined the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body of world cycling, in January 2006 as a lawyer. She works in particular on anti-doping. In 2013, she changed positions to occupy the position of Assistant to the General Director. Four years later, she took a further step to become general director, initially on an interim basis, before being confirmed in this role in 2018. At 40, she now manages a team in Aigle, Switzerland. of 120 people, between the international federation and the UCI World Cycling Center. Mother of two children, she lives on the banks of Lake Geneva, not far from the UCI offices.

Since you started professionally, what has been the most memorable experience of your career? 

Amina Lanaya : The current period, marked by the coronavirus, is unique in every way. It is the most difficult and complex that the sports movement has known. It will mark us all. But before that, I would say that the most formative experience was my time spent for seven years in the legal service of the Federation. I learned a lot during this period, which was undoubtedly one of the most delicate for the UCI. The Lance Armstrong years. We lost a lot of credibility, we had to rebuild. This experience made the woman I am today. The first female general director of the UCI. The youngest, too.

How do you understand, in your role at the UCI, the current economic situation and the uncertainty of the months to come? 

Since last March, I have entered a period of crisis, with permanent risk management. The UCI brings together eight different sporting disciplines. We are, so to speak, almost eight international federations under one roof. But road cycling remains the most visible discipline, with the densest international calendar. It is also, via its world championships, our main annual source of income. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the greatest there. But, unlike many international federations, we have not canceled all or part of the season. We tried to save the competitions, with a resumption of the news from last July. We never gave up, and we were rewarded with the very successful organization of the UCI Road Worlds in Imola, Italy. This health crisis revealed that we were capable of working together in professional cycling. It showed that the UCI could lead discussions and make itself heard. We also had to manage an unprecedented economic situation, with the postponement of the Tokyo Games. The UCI receives more than 25 million Swiss francs from the IOC every four years, the majority of which goes to the UCI World Cycling Center, responsible for the training and development of our sport throughout the world.

How would you define the way you exercise your role as general manager? 

I am passionate. I like people, dialogue and exchanges. I want to understand things and make them understand to my colleagues. I get to the end of things, but try not to neglect the human aspect. For all these reasons, I was very happy and proud to see that we had been able to work together, all the cycling stakeholders, since the start of the health crisis. I also have an excellent relationship with my president, David Lappartient, and my Management Committee, which greatly facilitates my work at the UCI.

What are the three most important values ​​to you in your professional activity? 

First, passion. I love what I do and I want the people around me to also experience the same passion. Then, unity. In the world of cycling, it has not often been demonstrated in recent decades that people can work together. Today we prove that unity is possible. And we will continue. Finally, loyalty. It is essential in my eyes in professional activity as in personal life. These are values ​​that I try to instill in my children every day.