Former UCI president calls for change in British Cycling's leadership: "Damaged by people who have no real knowledge the sport"

British Cycling was at the centre of major controversies last year, which resulted in CEO Brian Facer stepping down. The former UCI and British Cycling president Brian Cookson believes the situation will not resolve because the organisation is run by people with “no real knowledge” of cycling.

Cookson has been criticizing the top management for some time. He also called for a change of management last year. “The problem, in my view, starts at the top. The widespread view, which I share, is that British Cycling has been damaged by people who have been parachuted into the organisation with no real knowledge of, or commitment to, the sport and pastime and have no empathy with the people who participate and make cycling happen,” Cookson writes in his blog.

He further added, “In my view, the continued “brain drain” and hollowing-out of the organisation since 2016 has been little short of disastrous, and the impact is clearly beginning to show, for instance, in the dramatic fall in the number of cycling events scheduled for 2023, which I understand is 28% down on 2022, across all disciplines.”

Cookson was referring to the National Road Series calendar, which will feature only four road races: the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, the Lancaster Grand Prix, the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, and the Beaumont Trophy.

He believes that such a decision will further demoralise the cycling enthusiast which is not good for the sport. “These events are, of course, largely organised by volunteers in cycling clubs of all types around the country, and it is here where the demoralisation of those people and their commitment to British Cycling is most obviously and seriously failing,” concluded Cookson.