Pat McQuaid, the head of cycling's world governing body, emphasised his commitment to the fight against doping as he launched his manifesto for re-election today.
The Irishman was elected as president of the UCI in 2005, since when the sport has continued to be dogged by doping accusations and revelations, culminating in the exposure of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong as a drug cheat last year.
McQuaid's manifesto is titled 'A Bright Future for a Changed Sport'.
He said: "I am delighted to launch my re-election campaign and to present my vision for cycling's future to the cycling family whose support over the past eight years has enabled me to transform our sport.
"Cycling has changed since I was first elected as UCI president in 2005. It is now a global sport. It is now possible to race and win clean. We have travelled a great distance together and we must never turn back from cycling's bright future," he added.
McQuaid's opponent Brian Cookson, the president of British Cycling, has claimed change is needed to rebuild trust in the UCI.
