Act quickly or our sport will die, warns LeMond

He says a change is needed at the top in the wake of doping scandals, the most high-profile being Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven titles after the United States Anti-Doping Agency accused him of being at the centre of an organised conspiracy.

“It is now or never to act,” said LeMond, who was asked to run by Change Cycling Now, a newly-formed pressure group which held a conference in London over the weekend. “After the earthquake caused by the Armstrong case, another chance will not arise.

“I’m ready. I was asked and I accepted. If we want to restore public confidence and sponsors, we must act quickly and decisively otherwise cycling will die.

“Riders do not understand that if we continue like this, there will soon be no money in cycling.”

LeMond, now the only American recognised to have won the Tour de France, questioned whether current UCI incumbent Pat McQuaid, president since 2005, was the best candidate.

“I am willing to invest to make this institution more democratic, transparent and look for the best candidate in the longer term,” he said.