Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Pat McQuaid has failed to receive the backing of Cycling Ireland's clubs in his bid to secure nomination for a third term.
In an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Dublin today, McQuaid was defeated 91-74 after votes were collected from registered members of 60 separate clubs.
The Dubliner has been in charge of cycling’s international governing body for eight years but today’s result saw his chances of winning re-election in September suffer a serious blow, despite Irish cyclists Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly speaking in his favour at the hour-long meeting.
The EGM was convened after Cycling Ireland’s original decision to nominate McQuaid for a third term in April was overturned on a technicality.
There are concerns over his perceived leadership failings and his handling of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.
He was also criticised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) when an independent panel the UCI had established to examine its own alleged complicity was disbanded.
McQuaid's hopes of receiving a nomination to oppose British Cycling president Brian Cookson now rest with Swiss Cycling, who announced it had nominated the Irishman last month due to his long-term residency in Aigle.
However, that decision is currently the subject of a legal challenge from three of its members: Kurt Buergi, Mattia Galli and Patrick Calcagni. Swiss Cycling is preparing to convene to address the issue.
