Since Irishman Pat McQuaid's first election in 2005 cycling has been dogged by more doping rumours and revelations than ever, the most infamous of which was last year's exposure of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. 

In McQuaid's manifesto, entitled 'A Bright Future for a Changed Sport', he claimed to have introduced "the most sophisticated and effective anti-doping infrastructure in world sport". 

But McQuaid has previously been accused of failing the sport by not doing enough to tackle the problem.

His opponent Brian Cookson, who is also president of British Cycling, claimed McQuaid's record on doping  told its own story and that "a complete change in leadership" was needed. 

"Pat has been president of the UCI for two terms. While his manifesto outlines what he believes still needs to be done for the UCI, I think that many people will judge him on his record, and ask why those things haven't been done in the last eight years," Cookson said. 

"Unfortunately under his presidency far too much energy and resource have been devoted to destructive feuding and conflict rather than grabbing hold of the issues, listening to the right people and delivering solutions.

"In his manifesto he talks about the UCI stakeholders' consultation, but I think he fails to address the number one critical recommendation - that the UCI 'must take the steps necessary to restore cycling's and its own credibility, in particular in relation to the public perception of cycling's anti-doping measures and current UCI leadership'."

McQuaid's manifesto proposes a number of ways to combat doping including establishing an independent audit of the UCI's actions during the years when Armstrong was winning the Tour de France (1999-2005) and ensuring the UCI's Anti-Doping Foundation is more independent by increasing the UCI World Tour teams' contributions to anti-doping.

The election will take place at the UCI Congress in September.

Image: ©INPHO/Ciarán Fallon