Pat McQuaid says Greg LeMond move on UCI is a 'PR stunt'
Cycling president is unimpressed by three-time Tour champion's plans to run sports body in the wake of Lance Armstrong doping scandal
Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond's claim that he should take over cycling's governing body to lead the sport out of crisis following the Lance Armstrong doping scandal is nothing but a publicity stunt, according to UCI president Pat McQuaid.
McQuaid said LeMond "knows nothing" about running elite cycling and anti-doping programmes.
"It is a little bit arrogant of Greg to come along and be used — and he is being used — as a PR stunt," said McQuaid, describing LeMond as a "good friend" from the 1980s. "In all seriousness, this is not the time to be pulling stunts."
The UCI leader suggested that LeMond made a mistake by letting cycling activists promote his bid to replace McQuaid after he joined their meeting in London this month.
"The last 25 years, where has he been? Nowhere. Not involved in cycling. He is outside cycling, shouting at it, looking in," McQuaid said.
The Irish official made clear he planned to stand for election to a third four-year term in September.
"We had a big crisis," McQuaid said. "We have a perception problem, I know that, but I don't see me stepping down is going to change that perception. I need to oversee the action that is going on at the moment."
