Dear UCI

With Brian Cookson out and David Lappartient in, Felix Lowe writes an open letter to the new president of the UCI

- Brian Cookson

Dear David, félicitations on your 37-8 rugby-score-of-a-victory over Brian Cookson in the election to become head of the UCI. I hope your mauled predecessor handed over the lanterne rouge and UCI-branded rucksack on his way out of the headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland.

As Breton takes over from Briton – one white male cycling cognoscente from northwest Europe replacing another – at the top of an ailing global sport’s governing body, I’d like to take this opportunity to speak on behalf of my fellow cycling fans.

No sooner had you taken over the reins than we were treated to the sumptuous spectacle of the World Championships in Bergen, Norway. Perhaps your first move should be to use some of the wads of cash paid by Qatar to host last year’s Worlds to bail out the impoverished Norwegian Cycling Federation, which has had to go to local fans to raise cash to pay for the whole shindig. That red carpet they used for the time-trial bike-change zone really wasn’t cheap.

In fact, here’s an idea: scrap the fee for the Worlds altogether. Then perhaps your plans of an African Worlds may actually happen.