The 61-year-old Cookson, who has served - voluntarily - as President of British Cycling since being part of the committee that saved it from insolvency in 1996, announced he was to stand against incumbent Pat McQuaid of Ireland earlier this month and this week unveiled the particulars of his campaign manifesto under the slogan of "Restoring trust, Leading Change".

And although five-time world champion Clancy insists he has "nothing bad to say about the UCI" he did say Cookson, who has led British Cycling to 19 Olympic gold medals, 29 Paralympic gold medal, one Tour de France and multiple World Championships, would be a successful President.


"I've got nothing bad to say about the UCI," Clancy, 28, a member of Britain's team pursuit that won Olympic gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, told insidethegames.

"I'm not going to stand here and say they need change and that Brian is going to revolutionise cycling.

"But I do know that Brian is a good guy.

"If he got that role I'd feel very confident for the future of the UCI.

"He's done great things for British cycling, he's a nice guy and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be successful in that job."

The Presidential election is scheduled to take place during the UCI Congress at the World Championships in Florence in September.

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